Cozen Cities – August 14, 2024

Gig Economy & Technology

NEW YORK — City Deploys Drones for Major Storm Warnings

New York City emergency management officials have deployed five teams with multiple drones to warn residents in basement or ground-floor apartments of impending flash flood threats.

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Labor & Employment

BALTIMORE — Union Leaders Demand Enhanced Protections for DPW Staff

Following the heat-related death of a Department of Public Works (DPW) employee, unions and City leaders are demanding stronger protections and safety measures for Baltimore City workers.

BOSTON — Boston Sees Largest Office Attendance Growth Among Major U.S. Cities

Over the past year, Boston has seen the highest growth in office attendance among major U.S. markets, increasing by 10.3%. This growth has allowed the city to recover to more than half of pre-pandemic levels.

BOSTON — Mayor Wu Allocates $3.9M from NJT for Job Training

Mayor Michelle Wu recently announced a funding initiative aimed at education and job training for Boston residents. Nearly $4 million in funding from the Neighborhood Jobs Trust (NJT) will be allocated in support of 24 local organizations and approximately 2,000 residents.

LOS ANGELES — Union Secures Deal for L.A. Hotel to Rehire Workers, Take Over Operations

The union representing restaurant workers announced it had reached a tentative deal that requires Hotel Figueroa in downtown L.A. to take over operations of a cafe, bar, and staff kitchen from a contractor and rehire some of the laid-off employees.

MINNEAPOLIS — Park Workers’ New Contract Approved After 3-Week Strike

Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 363 announced earlier this month that the new contract secured “better wages and improved contract language.”

NEW YORK — Outdoor Dining to Shrink by Over 80% Under New Rules

Restaurants around the city are deconstructing pandemic-era outdoor dining stalls as new regulations require restaurants to meet new design requirements. Though more than 12,000 restaurants participated in the City’s outdoor dining program “Open Restaurants” at its peak,  only 2,592 restaurants applied for the new program.

RICHMOND — Union Proposes Overtime Changes for School Bus Drivers

Richmond Public Schools and the union representing Richmond’s school bus drivers initiated negotiations regarding workers’ contract revisions amid unresolved controversies over overtime pay and accusations of potential pay fraud.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — CareFirst Consolidates Six D.C. Offices into One

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield has conglomerated approximately 1,500 staff members who were initially spread across six different offices in D.C. The new headquarters at the Met Square Building will incorporate the company’s hybrid work model, allowing employees to voluntarily utilize the space as necessary.

Policy & Politics

CHICAGO — Where Chicago DNC Hosts Will Get the Parties Started

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) runs from August 19 to 22, with thousands of delegates and journalists expected to begin arriving the weekend before. Several events will highlight Chicago eateries and products made in the city.

CHICAGO — Migrant Homeless Encampment Cleared

The homeless encampment clearing was the latest in Chicago’s larger “encampment initiative” at eight tent cities across Chicago, according to Chicago Department of Family and Support Services spokesman Brian Berg.

DETROIT — Firewall Issues Delay Primary Election Results

Detroit election workers had to drive election results across the county on Tuesday night after the state primary, delaying the reporting of unofficial results on election night.

RICHMOND — Meet the City Council Candidates

With some members having stepped aside and others facing challenges, the composition of the Richmond City Council could potentially change following November’s elections.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Top Buildings Official Resigns Following Ethics Probe

A top D.C. Department of Buildings official resigned after an ethics probe found that she was secretly working a full-time private-sector job and attending to City Council business during her D.C. government “telework” days, leading to a $25,000 fine.

Public Health & Safety

LOS ANGELES — Historic Federal Funding Awarded to L.A. to Reduce Pollution

The Office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass worked to help secure $500 million in grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce pollution related to the movement of goods.

RICHMOND — City Public Defenders Sound Alarm on Jail Conditions

Richmond’s public defenders have directed attention to the conditions inside the Richmond City Justice Center. A lack of professional visitation rooms has caused attorneys to wait for hours in the detention center before meeting with their clients.

SAN DIEGO — Oversight Board Aims to Add Restrictions to SDPD Pursuit Policy

After reviewing data from more than 1,000 police pursuits, San Diego’s Commission on Police Practices recommended the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) create a pursuit review board that would publish a quarterly report on the pursuits officers engage in.

Real Estate Development

BALTIMORE — Group Attempts to Block Harborplace Redevelopment

Local group Protect Our Parks failed to gather enough signatures for a ballot initiative to block an Inner Harbor redevelopment project, though the group vowed to continue opposing the project.

NEW YORK — Mayor Adams, Gov. Hochul Announce Floating + Pool to Be Located at Pier 35

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced progress on a filtered floating pool project at Pier 35 near Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The initiative aims to expand equitable access to swimming for New York City children.

PHILADELPHIA — Apartment Glut Stokes Angst for Developers and Landlords

A surge in multifamily construction is prompting fears of a potential rental surplus among Philadelphia developers and landlords. With competition skyrocketing, landlords have found creative incentives to attract tenants, leading to a phenomenon in which “concession surfers” seek to repeatedly reap benefits offered in hyper-competitive neighborhoods.

SAN DIEGO — City Housing Permits Not Keeping Up With Demand

The San Diego metro area is on track to permit fewer housing units this year than in 2023 — in line with a nationwide trend, U.S. Census Bureau data show.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fannie Mae to Retain Downtown HQ

Fannie Mae announced that it will keep its Midtown Center property after initially intending to close the D.C. headquarters. The company had informed Carr Properties that it was planning to terminate its lease early, but has since reversed course and will continue with a smaller lease.

Taxes & Spending

BALTIMORE — City Resident Skeptical of Property Tax Cuts

Baltimore residents held a meeting to oppose Renew Baltimore’s proposed property tax rate cuts, fearing it could threaten city services and lead to significant budget deficits. The Board of Elections argues that the organization does not have the authority to change the City’s tax code.

CHICAGO — Budget Gap Could Reach Nearly $1B

“All options are on the table” for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson as his administration prepares for a significantly larger budget gap in 2025 than the $538 million, a shortfall he closed after taking office last year, according to the City’s budget director.

CHICAGO — City Releases 2024 ARPA Recovery Plan Annual Report

Chicago COVID-19 recovery efforts are yielding significant progress according to the latest 2024 Road to Recovery Plan Performance Report, which outlines the transformative use of $1.887 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funds to uplift the City’s most vulnerable communities.

DETROIT — New Detroit Projects Added to State Spending Plan

Detroit’s Chinatown, Greektown, and Motown Museum are set to receive large amounts of funding from the $82.5 billion Michigan state budget approved by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

DETROIT — Proposal L Asks Detroiters to Renew Library Tax

The Proposal L ballot question will ask voters to renew an expiring millage to support the Detroit Public Library.

LOS ANGELES — LAUSD Puts $9B in Bonds on Ballot to Update Campuses, Raise Property Taxes

The Los Angeles Board of Education voted unanimously to put a $9 billion school construction bond on the ballot in November — the largest in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) history and comparable in size to the $10 billion statewide school bond measure that is already going before voters.

MINNEAPOLIS — School Board Approves $20M Levy Question for Ballot

A proposed levy that will be put before voters in November would allocate $20 million toward technology in the Minneapolis School District.

MINNEAPOLIS — Park & Recreation Board Supports Increased Tax Levy to Improve Services, Park Care

During a meeting last week, commissioners with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board backed a proposed tax levy of about 10% to help maintain current park services and to care for park assets.

PHILADELPHIA — Homeowners’ Tax Bills Could Increase by $330 Due to Property Reassessments

Though Mayor Cherelle Parker and City Council left the real estate tax rate unchanged this year, Philadelphia homeowners can expect to see property taxes increase by $330 on average this year as the Parker Administration gears up for a citywide reassessment. Tax bills are due on March 31, 2025, and the deadline to file an appeal with the Board of Revision of Taxes is October 7.

SAN DIEGO — City Improperly Upped Spending on Contracts by $155M

A 50-page report released by City Auditor Andy Hanau last month found that 42% of contract altercations amounting to $155 million in taxpayer funds over the five-year period between 2017 and 2023 had been brought to the City Council in an untimely manner, retroactively, or not at all.

SEATTLE — Seattle’s Budget Forecast Worsens

According to a new economic forecast, Seattle is likely to add another $7 million to its budget deficit this year. These numbers are driven by low employment growth and low sales and commercial tax revenue.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — $61.3M in APRA Dollars to Fund Public Spaces

D.C. is receiving a $61.3 million federal grant from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for public library and local senior center improvements, as well as the construction of the new Anacostia Recreation Center, alleviating the burden of these projects on local taxpayers.

Transportation & Mobility

CHICAGO — Revamp of DuSable Lake Shore Drive Would Bring Parkland, S-Curve Relief, No Bus-Only Lanes

A new North DuSable Lake Shore Drive could eliminate the Chicago Avenue stop light, straighten out yet another notorious S-curve and add 80 acres of parkland by building out into Lake Michigan.

CHICAGO — Bus Rapid Transit Possible, But Still Long Way Off

As City Council members push for dedicated bus lanes on the city’s most popular routes, transit officials pumped the brakes on expectations of true bus rapid transit, emphasizing smaller efforts to speed up buses.

DETROIT — City to Launch Free “The Connect” Autonomous Shuttle Service

The pilot program of “The Connect” is free and will begin running a 10.8-mile route at 7 a.m.  today from Corktown, cutting through downtown, to the East Jefferson riverfront, and back.

LOS ANGELES — Metro Buses to Automatically Ticket Parking Violators

Camera-based technology will be deployed on L.A. Metro buses in hopes of cracking down on those who block dedicated bus lanes and bus stops with their vehicles, causing service disruptions and increasing transit times.

LOS ANGELES — Transit Projects Delayed Ahead of 2028 Olympics

Among the original 28 projects, 10 are not expected to be completed by the time Los Angeles hosts the Summer Olympic Games in 2028.

NEW YORK — MTA Outlines List of Improvements to Exceed $51.5B

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA) unveiled the largest capital improvement plan to date for its aging transportation infrastructure. The proposal focuses heavily on revamping the subway system, including track replacements, station improvements, and accessibility upgrades.

PHILADELPHIA — PPA Proposes Changes to City’s Residential Parking Permit Policy

The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) announced plans to double the yearly residential parking permit cost to $75 and cap the number of permits per household at three. The PPA will initiate the changes on September 1, in the hopes of mitigating curbside congestion.

PHILADELPHIA — Cyclists Demand Safety

Following the death of a CHOP resident, hundreds of cyclists rode from Philadelphia Art Museum to City Hall demanding that Mayor Parker address the troubling uptick in pedestrian and cyclist deaths on Philadelphia streets.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak Plans Massive Revamp of Union Station

Following a year-long lawsuit over eminent domain privileges, which granted Amtrak full control over D.C.’s Union Station, the company is now partnering with the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC) on a $100 million capital improvements project. This effort is a part of a broader $8.8 billion expansion initiative aimed at enhancing Amtrak ridership, as well as improving Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC), Virginia Railway Express (VRE), and D.C. Metro operations.

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