Cozen Cities – July 23, 2025

July 23, 2025

Housing & Real Estate

BOSTON—City’s First Office-to-Residential Conversion Project Begins

Construction has officially begun on Boston’s first office-to-residential apartment conversions. This effort is a part of a City pilot program aimed at transforming underused or vacant office space into housing.

CHICAGO—Granny Flat Ordinance Stalls at City Council

The Chicago City Council delayed a vote on legalizing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) citywide amid debates over adding local oversight and limitations. Supporters say ADUs help address the city’s affordable housing shortage, while opponents want to preserve aldermanic control over zoning decisions.

PHILADELPHIA—HBSE, Comcast Purchase Multiple Market East Properties

Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment (HBSE)—which owns the Philadelphia 76ers—and Comcast purchased multiple properties along two sections of East Market Street, signaling a joint commitment to revitalize the struggling area. The neighborhood was previously considered for a new arena for the basketball franchise.

SAN DIEGO—City’s Housing Market Shows Signs of Cooling Off

San Diego’s housing market has seen home prices soar, with the median sale price reaching $994,000 in May 2025—a 58% increase from five years ago. Despite rising prices, homes are taking longer to sell as affordability challenges and higher interest rates temper buyer urgency.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Council Committee Advances Amended Housing Bill

The D.C. Council Housing Committee approved a revised version of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) Rental Act, prompting disagreement over eviction procedures and tenant rights, as lawmakers seek to balance affordable housing development with protections for renters.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Report Outlines Unresolved Risks in RFK Stadium Plan

A D.C. Council-commissioned analysis of the RFK Stadium redevelopment proposal highlights concerns over maintenance costs, delayed tax revenue, undeveloped land, and public safety planning, as lawmakers resist pressure to approve the deal before completing due diligence.

Labor & Employment

NEW YORK CITY—Council Passes Minimum Wage for Delivery Drivers

The New York City Council passed a package of bills guaranteeing grocery delivery drivers a minimum wage of $21.44 per hour. While drivers welcomed the move as a step toward fairer compensation, delivery apps warned it could lead to higher fees for customers.

PHILADELPHIA—Parker Admin Strikes Deal with DC47

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker (D) reached a tentative contract agreement with AFSCME District Council 47, the City’s white collar workers union. The successful negotiations prevented what could have been the second such strike in one month.

Policy & Politics

NEW YORK CITY—Mayor’s Panel Withdrawals Open Primary Proposal

A panel created by Mayor Eric Adams (D) withdrew a proposal to switch to an open primary system, which would have allowed all registered voters to participate in primary elections, regardless of party affiliation. The Charter Revision Commission stated that there was not enough widespread support for the revision.

TWIN CITIES—Minneapolis DFL Endorses Omar Fateh for Mayor

The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) made its first-ever endorsement in the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary, opting to support state Senator Omar Fateh over incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey (D), potentially signaling a shift toward the party’s progressive wing.

Public Health & Safety

CHICAGO—High-Tech CTA Support Center Gives Police Tools to Fight Crime

Chicago police have launched a high-tech Strategic Decision Support Center within the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) support center, where detectives now work alongside trained officers to monitor real-time surveillance footage and quickly respond to transit crime.

CHICAGO—Shootings, Homicides Both Down More Than 30% in 2025 Thus Far

Chicago’s shootings and homicides dropped sharply in the first half of 2025, with violent crime down over 22% compared to last year. City officials highlight illegal gun access as the top public safety challenge, having recovered more than 5,500 firearms so far this year.

DETROIT—City Announces Crime Reduction Plan

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (D) and Police Chief Todd Bettison announced a “Five-Step Plan” to reduce violence, focusing on stricter curfew enforcement and extending hours for the Mobile Field Force to break up illegal gatherings. The plan also includes tougher fines for parents of curfew violators and prioritizes police responses to groups of juveniles out after curfew.

RICHMOND—City to Fight Opioid Crisis with Free Narcan Vending Machines

The City of Richmond plans to install harm reduction vending machines throughout local neighborhoods to curb opioid deaths. The machines will provide 24/7 access to Narcan and fentanyl test strips at no cost.

SEATTLE—Police Launch Real-Time Crime Center

The Seattle Police Department launched a Real Time Crime Center that uses live footage and surveillance cameras monitored by a staff nearly 20 hours a day from a centralized command center. Part of a broader crime prevention technology pilot, the center has been praised by law enforcement for its effectiveness, but criticized by many for potential privacy concerns.

Taxes & Spending

BALTIMORE—Youth Fund Faces Scrutiny Over Transparency, Spending Cuts

Experts and a City Council member are raising concerns about the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund’s alleged lack of transparency and high administrative costs, as nearly $7 million is redirected to the Mayor’s Office—potentially slashing grassroots grant funding by over 50% without clear plans to reduce overhead.

NEW YORK CITY—NYC Challenges FEMA Over Grant Cuts

New York City officials are challenging the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) decision to cut more than $351 million in climate resilience grants, arguing that it threatens essential infrastructure projects aimed at reducing flooding and enhancing disaster preparedness, citing recent subway flooding in particular.

TWIN CITIES—St. Paul Public Schools Asks Voters to Approve Operating Levy

St. Paul Public Schools is asking voters to approve an operating levy of $1,073 per student annually to cover a $37 million budget shortfall for the 2026–27 school year, aiming to avoid major cuts to art, music, and college readiness programs. If approved, the average St. Paul homeowner with a home valued at $289,200 can expect to pay about $309 more per year in property taxes.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Council Advances Budget Featuring Softened Cuts

The D.C. Council granted initial approval to a $22 billion budget that restores some social and environmental funding, supports ranked-choice voting, and maintains key development projects, while proceeding with significant health care cuts and changes to homelessness and public safety programs.

Transportation & Mobility

CHICAGO—”First Day, Free Rides” for Students Returns Next Month

The Chicago Transit Authority’s “First Day, Free Rides” program will return on August 18, offering free bus and train rides to all Chicago Public School students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The program provided more than 50,000 free rides last year.

TWIN CITIES—Minneapolis Announces First Traffic Safety Camera Locations

Minneapolis will launch its first-ever traffic safety camera pilot this fall, deploying cameras at five locations to enforce speed limits and reduce traffic deaths as part of its Vision Zero initiative. The program aims to change driver behavior by issuing warnings for first offenses and fines for repeated speeding, with all revenue reinvested into traffic safety efforts.

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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