Cozen Cities – June 11, 2025

Housing & Real Estate

BOSTON—City Receives $7.4M for Office-to-Residential Conversions

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey (D) allocated $7.4 million to support two office-to-residential conversion projects in downtown Boston, part of a broader initiative to create nearly 200 new housing units and revitalize underused commercial spaces.

SAN DIEGO—Study Proposes Smaller Lot Sizes to Tackle Housing Crisis

A new proposal backed by housing advocates and research from London Moeder Advisors suggests eliminating San Diego’s 5,000-square-foot minimum lot size to allow denser, more affordable housing, potentially boosting homeownership and city tax revenue.

Labor & Employment

LOS ANGELES—Council Weighs Back Pay Plan Amid Push to Delay Tourism Wage Hikes

The Los Angeles City Council is considering a motion that would ensure hotel and airport workers receive retroactive pay if a referendum delays the City’s new minimum wage ordinance, raising wages to $30 an hour by 2028, amid opposition from tourism industry groups.

PHILADELPHIA—Union Contract Dispute Threatens Strike

Philadelphia’s largest municipal union, AFSCME District Council 33, is considering a strike over unresolved contract issues with the City, prompting concerns of a garbage strike.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Council Pauses Tipped Wage Hike

The D.C. Council voted last week to pause a scheduled $2 increase in the tipped minimum wage, opting instead to keep it at $10 per hour for 90 days as lawmakers debate whether to repeal the initiative entirely.

Policy & Politics

BALTIMORE—City to Upgrade 311 System, Revamp CitiStat

Baltimore is overhauling its 311 service system and CitiStat program to improve responsiveness, transparency, and accountability in City services. Upgrades include new features, better tracking, expanded language access, and stronger data-driven oversight.

DETROIT—Mayoral Candidates Tackle Lingering Issues, Plans for City’s Future

Five of Detroit’s mayoral candidates debated each other at the Mackinac Policy Conference, tackling issues including strategies for economic growth, tax reform, and neighborhood investment, while offering their visions for the City’s future.

NEW YORK—Democratic Mayoral Candidates Engage in First Debate

In New York’s first Democratic mayoral debate, several candidates targeted Andrew Cuomo’s record on health care, ethics, and leadership, while he defended his experience and law-and-order platform. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, who is currently polling second, picked up a key endorsement from U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14).

SEATTLE—Mayor Harrell Proposes Tougher Nightlife Regulations

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell (D) proposed expanding the City’s chronic nuisance ordinance to include liquor violations and nearby disturbances in order to curb rising nightlife-related violence and hold nightclub owners more accountable.

TWIN CITIES—Minneapolis Auditor Flags Oversight Gaps in No-Bid Homeless Contract

Minneapolis’ city auditor reported significant oversight issues in private contracting, citing a no-bid agreement with Helix to clear a homeless encampment that resulted in overpayments and lacked proper documentation, prompting calls for improved training and accountability.

Public Health & Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Truancy Law Enforcement Failures Linked to Youth Crime Surge

An investigation by The Washington Post revealed that D.C.’s failure to enforce truancy laws and support youth programs contributed to a surge in middle school crime. In response, the D.C. Council is considering legislation to expand after-school access and pilot a new truancy referral system, though implementation has been limited so far.

Taxes & Spending

BALTIMORE—Budget Debates Focus on Job Vacancies, Deficit Fixes, Infrastructure Borrowing Plan

The Baltimore City Council is currently reviewing Mayor Brandon Scott’s $4.6 billion proposed budget, which would address more than 2,700 City job vacancies, reduce overtime, and close an $85 million deficit through service cuts, fund reallocations, and create wage reforms. The plan also includes a $125 million infrastructure borrowing proposal, which has been criticized by economists as risky amid high interest rates and federal funding uncertainty.

BOSTON—Council Unanimously Approves Budget Amendments

The Boston City Council unanimously approved $9 million in amendments to Mayor Michelle Wu’s (D) $4.8 billion FY25 budget, reallocating funds toward housing vouchers, youth jobs, and mental health services. The changes, totaling just 0.19% of the budget, do not alter overall spending. The amended budget now returns to Mayor Wu, who may issue vetoes.

CHICAGO—Top Mayoral Aides Make the Case for Local Grocery Tax, Sales Tax on Services

Chicago City Budget Director Annette Guzman stated that the City Council “must reaffirm the grocery tax before the state’s deadline of October 1.” Allowing the tax to lapse in 2026 would cost the City an estimated $80 million next year.

PHILADELPHIA—Council Backs $6.8B Budget Featuring Tax Cuts, $800M HOME Bond

The Philadelphia City Council gave preliminary approval to Mayor Cherelle Parker’s (D) $6.8 billion budget last week. The budget includes long-term wage and business tax cuts and $800 million in borrowing for her Housing Opportunities Made Easy (HOME) Initiative.

RICHMOND—Council Approves 5-Cent Plastic Bag Tax Starting 2026

The Richmond City Council approved a 5-cent tax on plastic bags at grocery, convenience, and drug stores beginning January 1, 2026, with revenue funding environmental cleanup, education, and reusable bags for low-income residents.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Job Losses, Sanctuary City Policy, Gambling Expansion the Focus of FY26 Budget Discussions

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) $21.8 billion FY26 budget proposal aims to offset a projected $1 billion shortfall and the loss of up to 40,000 federal jobs through business incentives, real estate development, and legalizing poker and blackjack. The proposal faces pushback from the D.C. Council over controversial Medicaid cuts and a provision to repeal the city’s sanctuary law.

Transportation & Mobility

CHICAGO—Mayor Johnson Urges State to Tax “Ultra Rich” to Avert Mass Transit Cuts

Following Illinois state lawmakers’ failure to pass a mass transit funding bill, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) urged the Illinois General Assembly to steer clear of taxes that hammer working people, and instead turn to the “ultra rich” to pony up $770 million to avert layoffs and service cuts at Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and Pace.

NEW YORK—City to Implement 15 MPH Speed Limit on E-Bikes

Mayor Eric Adams (D) announced a new citywide 15 mph speed limit for e-bikes and e-scooters, citing public concerns over street safety, specifically to protect families.

Share

Share this...

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Linkedin