Broad Street Brief: WFP Takeover; Tangled Titles; FDR Park Programs in Jeopardy

August 4, 2023

Election Update

WFP Candidates Aim to Oust Republicans From City Council, City Commissioners Board

Candidates from Philadelphia’s progressive Working Families Party (WFP) are officially seeking to oust Republicans from office in the upcoming November election. WFP City Council candidate Nicolas O’Rourke is working to double the success of WFP incumbent Kendra Brooks, who stunned the local political scene with her historic win in 2018. Meanwhile, WFP City Commissioner candidate Jarrett Smith is eyeing Republican incumbent Seth Bluestein’s position on the three-member elections administration body. The three WFP candidates submitted more than 21,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot, which is three times more than the required amount to qualify.

Democratic Mayoral Nominee Cherelle Parker to Gear Up for General Election

While many consider Democratic victory in the upcoming Philadelphia mayoral election to be a foregone conclusion, due to Democrat’s voter registration advantage, there is at least one person who doesn’t: Democratic nominee Cherelle Parker. Even though the former state representative and city councilmember took some personal time off following her primary win in May, she stated that she is taking the race seriously and will ramp up her campaign efforts again after Labor Day.

Around Town

City, Nonprofit Partners Take Aim at Tangled Titles

Philadelphians risk losing a collective $1.1 billion in generational wealth from tangled titles, an administrative phenomenon that occurs when the legal ownership of a given property is in question. According to a 2021 analysis by Pew Charitable Trusts, there are more than 10,400 tangled titles in Philadelphia, which city officials and nonprofit partners have been working tirelessly to remedy by devoting more resources to educating and assisting Philadelphians with estate planning and will writing services.

HUD Awards PHA $50 Million Choice Neighborhoods Grant to Renovate Bartram Village

The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) received a transformational $50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development’s (HUD) competitive Choice Neighborhoods program to renovate Bartram Village in Southwest Philadelphia. The program is designed to help improve struggling communities.

Pattern of Antisocial Behavior Jeopardizes Popular Community Programs Offered at FDR Park

An increase in antisocial behavior, including repeated vandalism, theft, and littering, is jeopardizing the very existence of popular community programs offered in Philadelphia’s FDR Park. Even with the Parks Department rangers monitoring the park overnight, many boating, fishing, and outdoor education programs worry that this preventative measure won’t be enough for them to continue offering services.

The Mazzoni Center Names Dr. Trooskin as New Executive Director

Stacey Trooskin was named executive director of the Mazzoni Center, Philadelphia’s largest LGBTQ health agency. Dr. Trooksin will lead the agency’s work, providing access to mental, behavioral, and gender affirming care, at a time when LGBTQ rights are more precarious than ever.

Opinion: Philadelphia Government Transparency Efforts Leave Much To Be Desired

According to a public records response time analysis, Philadelphia has been getting steadily worse at successfully responding to such requests in a timely fashion. The article weighs the pros and cons of options that would improve city government transparency.

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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