Cozen Cities – February 25, 2026

Housing & Real Estate

PITTSBURGH—Short‑Term Rental Regulations Move Forward in City Council

The Pittsburgh City Council advanced legislation establishing new regulations and licensing requirements for short‑term rentals, sending zoning‑related provisions to the Planning Commission for further review.

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RICHMOND—Mayor Avula, City Council Compromise on Affordable Housing Funding

Mayor Danny Avula (D) and Richmond City Council leaders reached an agreement to dedicate 2.5% of the city’s prior‑year real estate tax revenue to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund beginning in 2028, establishing a dedicated funding stream to address Richmond’s housing affordability challenges.

SEATTLE—City Council Unanimously Approves Social Housing Development

The Seattle City Council unanimously voted to begin funding the Seattle Social Housing Developer using revenue from a 5% tax on total compensation for employees earning more than $1 million annually. The employer‑paid tax was approved by voters in February 2025 as Proposition 1A.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Councilmembers Seek Overhaul of Housing Finance Framework

Four D.C. Council members introduced legislation to replace the Housing Production Trust Fund with a new housing finance system intended to accelerate affordable housing development amid escalating building costs.

Public Health & Safety

CHICAGO—Mayor Johnson’s Veto on Hemp Product Ban Stands

The Chicago City Council failed to overturn Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s (D) veto of an ordinance that would have banned the sale of intoxicating hemp products in the city.

DETROIT—Mayor Sheffield Launches New Office of Neighborhood and Community Safety

Mayor Mary Sheffield (D) unveiled a new Office of Neighborhood and Community Safety focused on a public‑health, community‑based approach to violence prevention, including community violence intervention, restorative practices, survivor services, domestic violence prevention, reentry support, and group violence intervention.

LOS ANGELES—County Closes Seven Public Health Clinics After Major Funding Cuts

Following more than $50 million in reduced federal, state, and local funding, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will close seven clinics on Friday, consolidating services as remaining sites continue providing core programs such as STI testing, vaccinations, and tuberculosis care.

TWIN CITIES—St. Paul Enacts Face-Covering Ban for Law Enforcement

The St. Paul City Council voted to restrict all law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings during operations, with limited exceptions.

Labor & Employment

CHICAGO—Union Warns Janitor Layoffs Will Impact City Buildings

Union officials warned that janitorial layoffs could affect police and fire stations and other city facilities following a $12 million cut to the facilities budget in the city’s 2026 spending plan. The Johnson administration ordered a 50% staffing reduction for contractors employing union custodians, according to Service Employees International Union Local 1.

NEW YORK CITY—Expansion of City PTO Benefits

Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) announced an expansion of the city’s Protected Time Off Law, granting workers an additional 32 hours of unpaid protected leave available upon hire and at the start of each year. The changes also broaden eligible uses to include childcare needs, caring for family members with disabilities, attending benefits or housing appointments, staying home during emergencies, and addressing workplace‑violence issues.

Policy & Politics

RICHMOND—$280M for City Water, Sewer Upgrades as Housing Bills Advance

Richmond-area lawmakers introduced budget amendments seeking $280 million over two years to upgrade the city’s aging water and sewer infrastructure. While rent‑control proposals were delayed until 2027, bipartisan legislation granting Richmond authority to establish affordable dwelling unit programs continues to advance in the General Assembly.

SEATTLE—City Limits Information Sharing With Federal Immigration Authorities

The Seattle City Council unanimously approved legislation barring city employees and departments from sharing nonpublic personal information with federal immigration authorities for civil enforcement purposes without a warrant.

TWIN CITIES—City Council Approves $7M in Small Business Aid

The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a measure setting aside $7 million to support small businesses impacted by immigration enforcement. The funding will be drawn from the city’s Downtown Assets Fund.

Taxes & Spending

LOS ANGELES—City Council Advances Ballot Measure to Raise Hotel Tax During Olympics

The Los Angeles City Council approved a June ballot measure that would temporarily increase the city’s transient occupancy tax ahead of the Olympic Games. The proposal calls for a 2% increase to the current 14% hotel tax, generating an estimated $44 million per fiscal year, before dropping to a permanent 1% increase beginning in 2029, according to City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo.

NEW YORK CITY—Mayor Mamdani Releases FY27 Preliminary Budget

Mayor Mamdani released his preliminary Fiscal Year 2027 budget, warning of a multibillion‑dollar gap. He said the state must raise taxes on high‑income earners and corporations to help close the shortfall, and cautioned that he would pursue a property tax increase if Albany does not act.

RICHMOND—City Council Requests Higher Contract Worker Pay, Real Estate Tax Analysis

The Richmond City Council unanimously approved resolutions requesting that Mayor Avula add $1.1 million to the FY 2026–27 budget to increase pay for contracted janitorial workers and provide a fiscal analysis on the impact of reducing the real estate tax rate to $1.16 by 2028.

Transportation & Mobility

BOSTON—City Extends Fare‑Free MBTA Bus Routes Through June

Mayor Michelle Wu (D) announced that Boston will extend its fare‑free bus program following growth in ridership, paying the MBTA $340,000 per month to cover route fares.

CHICAGO—CTA to Expand Use of AI Gun Detection Technology

Chicago Transit Authority Vice President of Security Kevin Ryan announced plans to expand the agency’s use of AI-powered gun detection software, citing promising results since the program’s launch in 2024.

LOS ANGELES—City Seeks Public Input on Proposed Speed Camera Locations

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation seeks public comment on the proposed locations of a citywide speed‑camera pilot program, which would deploy up to 125 systems based on criteria such as histories of speeding, crashes, and street racing, as well as areas with high concentrations of vulnerable road users.

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