Broad Street Brief: Vote Tallying Continues in Philadelphia, Suburbs

November 7, 2024

CITY HALL

Parker Administration Vows Reforms to Fix Philadelphia’s Troubled Land Bank

Last week, following intense criticism from City Council and community advocates, the Parker Administration pledged to address longstanding inefficiencies within Philadelphia’s Land Bank, including improving transparency and prioritizing community needs. The administration aims to update the agency’s strategic plan, make its operations more user-friendly, and support community-focused projects alongside affordable housing initiatives.

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Upcoming Committee Hearings

Philadelphia City Council holds several public hearings throughout the legislative calendar year. Watch here.

  • The Committee of the Whole will meet on Tuesday, November 12 at 10 a.m. to discuss and hear testimony regarding several ordinances that would authorize land acquisition, leasing, and zoning changes necessary to support the construction and operation of a new Sixers arena in Center City.

Election Update

Philadelphia’s Working-Class, Latino Communities Help Deliver Trump Victory

Former President Donald Trump won the presidency in a dramatic comeback from his loss in 2020, clinching Pennsylvania thanks to strong support in rural areas and slight gains in Philadelphia, especially among working-class and Latino voters. Despite efforts to boost participation, Philadelphia’s overall voter turnout remained low at 62.9%, reflecting ongoing voter apathy and disillusionment with politics, despite high turnout elsewhere in Pennsylvania.

Control of State House Hinges on Philadelphia, Suburbs

The tight race in HD-172, spanning parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties and with Democrat Sean Dougherty holding a narrow lead, is critical to determining which party will control the closely divided Pennsylvania House, where Democrats currently hold a one-seat majority. Philadelphia’s final vote count will also likely decide the outcome of the still-too-close-to-call U.S. Senate race between incumbent Democrat Bob Casey and Republican challenger Dave McCormick, who currently holds a narrow lead as of noon Thursday.

Around Town

Philadelphia Experiencing Self-Storage Boom

Thanks to increased household purchases, rising housing costs, and limited residential space, Philadelphia is seeing rapid growth in self-storage facilities — even as other cities resist such developments to prioritize land for housing and businesses.

SEPTA Introduces Real-Time Alerts to Tackle “Ghost Bus” Issue

SEPTA launched a real-time cancellation notification system for bus riders, allowing them to see updates on canceled trips in transit apps, a step intended to address the “ghost bus” issue caused by driver shortages.

UArts Begins Sale of Historic Center City Buildings

The University of the Arts (UArts) hired JLL to sell nine of its historic Center City buildings, totaling 760,000 square feet, to pay creditors following its unexpected closure in June.

Authors

About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.

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