Cozen Cities: April 22, 2026

April 22, 2026

Technology & Gig Economy

CHICAGO—City Council Approves First Taxi Fare Increase

The Chicago City Council approved Mayor Brandon Johnson’s (D) plan to raise taxi fares by 20%, marking the first increase in 10 years.

PHILADELPHIA—City, Temple University Launch Laptop Distribution Program

Philadelphia’s Office of Innovation and Technology partnered with Temple University to distribute 1,600 free laptops as part of the city’s broader initiative to expand digital access for residents.

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Housing & Real Estate

DETROIT—Council Approves $56.4M Affordable Housing Investment

The Detroit City Council approved a $56.4 million funding package to support affordable housing preservation and development, including new construction and anti‑displacement programs.

LOS ANGELES—Council Committee Advances $360 Million in Measure ULA Housing Funds

A Los Angeles City Council committee approved $360 million in Measure ULA funding to support more than 4,000 affordable housing units across 80 projects, sending the plan to the full Council.

PHILADELPHIA—Landlords Seek Contempt Order Over Renter‑Protection Hearings

Philadelphia landlords asked a judge to hold the City Council in contempt, arguing that the Housing Committee’s March 30 rehearing on renter‑protection bills again violated Sunshine Act requirements.

SEATTLE—Council Moves to Accelerate Homeless Shelter Construction

The Seattle City Council approved two bills to expedite homeless shelter construction, allocating more than $8 million for 500 beds and expanding the city’s authority to lease larger sites.

TWIN CITIES—Minneapolis Council Considers Housing Code Changes

The Minneapolis City Council is considering amendments to the city’s housing maintenance code that would prohibit inquiries into immigration status and bar denials based solely on use of an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

Public Health & Safety

BOSTON—Council Seeks Police Body‑Camera Footage Review

The Boston City Council voted unanimously to request body‑worn camera footage from all Boston Police Department fatal force incidents in 2025 and 2026.

NEW YORK CITY—City Expands Trash Containerization Program

New York City announced plans to expand trash containerization to six additional community districts, with citywide implementation scheduled for completion by 2031.

PHILADELPHIA—Council Considers Ban on Waste Disposal at Chester Incinerator

Philadelphia City Council is weighing legislation that would prohibit the city from sending trash to the Reworld incinerator in Chester, with officials citing potential increased costs of $6.5 million annually.

PITTSBURGH—Council Codifies Limits on ICE Cooperation

Pittsburgh City Council unanimously approved legislation formalizing limits on cooperation with federal immigration agents and requiring a report on city surveillance technology.

Labor & Employment

CHICAGO—Mayor’s Veto Stands on Tipped Wage Increase Pause

The Chicago City Council failed to override Mayor Johnson veto of a measure that would have paused scheduled increases to the city’s subminimum wage for tipped workers.

PHILADELPHIA—Officials Project Full Pension Funding by 2032

Philadelphia officials reported that the city’s pension system is projected to reach full funding by 2032 following steady improvements over the past decade.

RICHMOND—City Reaches $549K Settlement in FOIA Retaliation Lawsuit

Richmond agreed to pay $549,000 to settle a retaliation lawsuit brought by a former Freedom of Information Act officer, concluding a two‑year legal dispute.

Policy & Politics

BALTIMORE—Judge Allows Inspector General’s Lawsuit to Proceed

A Baltimore judge denied the Mayor Brandon Scott (D) administration’s request to dismiss the Inspector General’s lawsuit seeking access to unredacted records related to the SideStep program.

CHICAGO—Council Weighs Ban on “Extremist Activity” for Police Officers

The Chicago City Council introduced an ordinance barring police officers from engaging in “extremist activity,” with some members calling for its application to all city employees.

LOS ANGELES—Mayor Releases Proposed FY27 Budget

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) released her proposed FY2026–27 budget, outlining funding priorities for homelessness, housing, public safety, and infrastructure.

Taxes & Spending

LOS ANGELES—Council Places Hotel Tax Increase on June Ballot

The Los Angeles City Council voted 13–2 to place a measure on the June ballot that would raise the city’s hotel tax from 14% to 16% through the 2028 Olympics and set it at 15% thereafter. The city estimates the increase would generate approximately $44 million annually before the games and $22 million annually afterward, with opponents raising concerns about impacts on tourism.

NEW YORK CITY—Officials Propose Pied‑à‑Terre Tax on Luxury Properties

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) and New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) proposed the state’s first pied‑à‑terre tax, which would impose an annual surcharge on secondary residential properties valued above $5 million when the owner’s primary residence is outside the city. The proposal is projected to raise roughly $500 million annually to help close the city’s budget gap and would require state legislative approval.

PITTSBURGH—Council Passes Revised 2026 Budget

Pittsburgh City Council approved a revised 2026 budget, adding $28 million in adjusted expenses and drawing $6.5 million from reserves to maintain balance.

RICHMOND—Mayor Proposes Scaled‑Back Spending Transparency Portal

Richmond Mayor Danny Avula (D) proposed relaunching the city’s online spending register with a narrower scope to reduce administrative demands.

Transportation & Mobility

DETROIT—Transit Agencies Announce Major Service, Infrastructure Upgrades

Detroit transit agencies announced service expansions, fleet modernization, and infrastructure improvements, aimed at increasing reliability and regional connectivity.

PITTSBURGH—URA Approves Tax Diversion to Support Downtown Infrastructure

The Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority approved a plan to divert a portion of tax revenue generated by new development in Downtown, the Strip District, and the North Shore to fund public infrastructure improvements in the city’s central business district.

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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