Cozen Cities – February 19, 2025

Labor & Employment

CHICAGO — Restaurant Workers Prepare as ICE Arrests Cast Uncertainty

Chicago restaurant workers are bracing for possible U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests, despite no confirmed raids. Fears have led workers, advocates, and employers to focus on immigration rights education.

PHILADELPHIA — City Council Considers Strengthening Worker Protections

Philadelphia City Councilmember Kendra Brooks (At Large) introduced the Protect Our Workers, Enforce Rights (POWER) Act to enhance enforcement of worker protection laws, granting the City’s Department of Labor broader authority and establishing a worker justice fund.

TWIN CITIES — Businesses See Sales Drops Amid Deportation Threat

Minneapolis’ Lake Street merchants are seeing a significant drop in sales as immigrants are staying home amid deportation threats due to President Donald Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

Policy & Politics

BALTIMORE — City Council’s 2025 Promises Outlined in Upcoming Hearings

The Baltimore City Council is holding hearings on various issues, including high gas bills, first responder overtime, and the opioid crisis, as part of their efforts to improve City services and address key priorities for 2025.

BOSTON — 2025 Mayoral Race Heats up as Wu, Kraft Trade Barbs

Boston’s 2025 mayoral race is heating up, with candidate Josh Kraft expressing concerns about incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu’s housing production efforts and responsiveness to residents. In response, Mayor Wu raised questions about Kraft’s leadership readiness, citing his voting history outside the city.

LOS ANGELES — LAUSD Sued for Alleged Misuse of Nearly $80 Million

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) students filed a lawsuit alleging the district misused $76.7 million in funds dedicated for art and music education and did not provide mandated expanded arts and music instruction to hundreds of thousands of students.

PHILADELPHIA — Mayor Parker’s Second Year to Focus on Housing, Tax Reform

Mayor Cherelle Parker emphasized her commitment to creating, repairing, and restoring 30,000 housing units and announced plans for aggressive tax reform during her annual address to the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. Her budget address will take place in March.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — BOWSER Act Introduced to Repeal D.C. Home Rule

The “Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident” (BOWSER) Act was introduced in Congress last week proposing the elimination of D.C.’s home rule charter. The bill does not include details about who would take over or how the transition would occur.

Public Health & Safety

BALTIMORE — City Sues Glock Over Easily-Converted Guns

The City of Baltimore has filed a lawsuit against Glock, aiming to stop the sale of pistols that can be easily modified into automatic weapons and seeking to recover damages and ensure public safety.

CHICAGO — Mayor Johnson Looking at Range of Gunshot-Detection Systems

The City of Chicago is now accepting bids for a new police technologies contract to expand its police department’s surveillance capabilities after Mayor Brandon Johnson ended the ShotSpotter gunfire-detection system last year.

NEW YORK — Mayor Adams Promises Increased Cooperation with ICE Officials

Mayor Eric Adams announced plans to draft an executive order allowing federal immigration authorities to operate on Rikers Island, following a meeting with border czar Tom Homan. This marks a notable shift in the City’s sanctuary policies.

RICHMOND — City Officials Address Water Crisis Report

Richmond Mayor Danny Avula and other City officials unveiled a preliminary report on the City’s January water crisis, identifying power failures and staffing issues as the primary culprit and emphasizing the need for better training and equipment upgrades to prevent future incidents.

Real Estate Development

CHICAGO — Housing Development Scaled Back by 80% Following Trump Tariffs

The developer of a mixed-use property in Chicago reduced the project by nearly 80% in response to tariffs on steel and aluminum imposed by President Trump. This decision reflects broader concerns about rising construction costs and their impact on the housing market.

PHILADELPHIA — Eviction Filings Drop, Stay Low Thanks to Diversion Program

Philadelphia’s nationally recognized Eviction Diversion Program, which became permanent last spring, has successfully reduced eviction filings by resolving landlord-tenant disputes outside of court, keeping renters in their homes and improving communication.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Mayor Bowser Proposes Permanent Rollback of Pandemic-Era Housing Protections

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser proposed legislation to permanently roll back pandemic-era eviction protections and rental assistance policies to support affordable housing providers. Tenant advocates have expressed concern about potential displacement and reduced tenant rights.

Taxes & Spending

BOSTON — City Council Advances Wu’s Tax Plan

The Boston City Council approved Mayor Wu’s tax relief proposal in a 12-1 vote. The measure, which seeks to temporarily raise commercial real estate taxes to lower residential taxes, now heads to the Massachusetts State House, where a similar bill was rejected last year.

CHICAGO — Committee Signs Off on $830M General-Obligation Bond Issue

Mayor Johnson’s $830 million bond plan for capital projects cleared the City Council Finance Committee despite concerns over federal funding risks and the City’s downgraded bond rating.

TWIN CITIES — Minneapolis City Council Seeks to Move $1.25M in Violence Prevention Funding to County

A proposal to shift $1.25 million in violence prevention funding to Hennepin County is headed to the Minneapolis City Council. Supporters cite concerns over the City’s management, including unverified spending on contracts.

SAN DIEGO — Worsening Budget Crisis Prompts Efforts to Boost Revenue

Proposals to boost San Diego’s revenue come as a new report shows a widening projected deficit. Mayor Todd Gloria has proposed increasing cannabis taxes and hiking City fees, such as fees for swimming at a City pool.

SEATTLE — Voters Approve New Workforce Housing Tax

Seattle voters approved a new public housing initiative funded by a tax on the City’s highest-paying companies, aimed at preventing the displacement of working-class families. This move reflects voters’ continued support for leveraging private sector success to address shared social challenges.

Transportation & Mobility

CHICAGO — CTA, Pace Receive Grant for 57 Battery-Powered Vehicles

Chicago’s electric bus fleet may soon double as a $58 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is bankrolling 27 new electric buses for Pace and 30 more for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).

DETROIT — Amtrak, State Officials Weigh Return of Service to Michigan Central

Amtrak and Michigan state officials are exploring the possibility of returning passenger rail to Detroit’s historic Michigan Central Station, with plans to connect Detroit to Toronto by train.

LOS ANGELES — City Council to Explore Fare-Free DASH Services

The Los Angeles City Council voted to study the feasibility of making DASH bus service free next fiscal year. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation will analyze fare collection costs, including enforcement and administration, to determine if the City can eliminate fares.

TWIN CITIES — Metro Transit Responds to Ridership Changes

Metro Transit plans a 35% service expansion, including a 70% increase in St. Paul, under its Network Now framework. The plan adds new routes, increases frequency, and permanently removes some suspended routes through 2027.

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