Cozen Cities – June 17, 2026

Technology & Gig Economy

TWIN CITIES—MSP, Stakeholders Begin Developing Driverless Vehicle Regulations

Minneapolis officials, alongside labor and community leaders, announced plans to develop a regulatory framework and business licensing structure for autonomous vehicle operations.

NEW YORK CITY—Council Urges Pause on AI Use in Schools

A majority of NYC Council members called for a pause on the use of generative AI in schools, raising concerns about student data privacy and stakeholder engagement. Lawmakers criticized initial guidance from the NYC Department of Education as insufficient and urged further review before broader implementation.

SEATTLE—Council Approves Data Center Moratorium and Policy Framework

The Seattle City Council unanimously approved a one‑year moratorium on new data centers while advancing a policy framework to guide future development.

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Housing & Real Estate

NEW YORK CITY—Council Speaker Proposes Affordable Housing on Library Sites

NYC Speaker Julie Menin (D) unveiled a proposal to build affordable housing atop three library sites across the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn. The plan would invest $60 million per site to modernize the libraries and deliver at least 300 affordable housing units, including apartments for formerly homeless residents.

PITTSBURGH—Commission Recommends Changes to Inclusionary Zoning Policy

Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission recommended shifting from a citywide mandatory inclusionary zoning policy to a voluntary incentive framework, while maintaining requirements in select neighborhoods and advancing related zoning reforms.

RICHMOND—Council Continues Deliberations on Zoning Overhaul

Richmond officials are evaluating proposed zoning changes as part of a broader code update, focusing on key issues including residential density, occupancy limits, and land‑use designations.

RICHMOND—Council Advances Housing‑Related Policies as Part of Broader Action Package

The Richmond City Council unanimously approved a property tax deferral program, allowing participants to defer increases above 105% of the prior year’s tax liability.

SEATTLE—Committee Advances Expanded Authority for Social Housing Developer

A Seattle City Council committee approved legislation granting the city’s social housing developer expanded financial authority to support future housing projects. The measure now moves to the full council for final consideration.

Public Health & Safety

BALTIMORE—Mayor Proposes $3M to Sustain Clean Corps Program

Mayor Brandon Scott (D) proposed moving funding for the city’s street-beautification Clean Corps program into the general fund, prompting concerns from council members over oversight and fiscal management.

CHICAGO—Officials Outline Timeline for Replacing Gunshot Detection System

Chicago officials told the City Council’s Public Safety Committee that selecting a replacement for the city’s former gunshot detection system could take up to eight months, with a final contract potentially not in place until early 2027.

DETROIT—Council Approves Emergency Ambulance Service Contracts

The City Council approved a set of three‑year contracts totaling approximately $5 million to support emergency ambulance services. City officials noted that bringing EMS operations fully in‑house would require an estimated $20 million in upfront costs.

DETROIT—Police Seek Extension of ShotSpotter Contract

The city’s Police Department is seeking City Council approval for a nine‑month, $2.06 million extension of its ShotSpotter contract, which is set to expire at the end of June. The technology has been in use since 2020 under a current agreement valued at approximately $7 million.

LOS ANGELES—Council Awards Contract for Speed Safety Program

The City Council approved a contract with Verra Mobility to design, implement, and operate a citywide speed safety program. The initiative will deploy automated enforcement systems at 125 high‑injury traffic corridors.

PITTSBURGH—Council Approves New Zoning Limits on Vape Shops

The City Council approved stricter zoning regulations, requiring new vape retailers to meet distance requirements around schools, obtain planning commission approval, and observe a nightly curfew between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m.

Labor & Employment

NEW YORK CITY—Mayor Launches ‘Know Your Rights’ Campaign Ahead of World Cup

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) announced a “Know Your Rights” campaign, featuring materials modeled after soccer’s yellow and red card system. The $130,000 initiative will distribute resources to low-wage workers, immigrants, and others to raise awareness of legal protections.

RICHMOND—Mayor Endorses Municipal Collective Bargaining Following Governor’s Veto

Mayor Danny Avula (D) said the city’s collective bargaining framework remains unchanged,following a state‑level veto of legislation to expand public‑sector union rights. Avula noted that Richmond already has a local system in place, limiting the impact of the governor’s decision on city operations.

Policy & Politics

BOSTON—Council Approves Mayor’s Budget

The City Council approved Mayor Michelle Wu’s (D) $4.9 billion budget with $11.8 million in reallocations, following a contentious process marked by internal debate, proposed funding shifts across departments, and a meeting disruption that resulted in several arrests.

LOS ANGELES—Council Committee Scales Back Proposed Charter Reform Measure

A City Council committee voted to exclude several major reforms from a proposed November charter ballot measure, including plans to expand the council to 25 members and adopt ranked choice voting. The full council is set to meet for a final decision on which proposals will be placed on the ballot.

TWIN CITIES—MSP Leaders Approve $1.4M Mediation Contract

The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey (D) have agreed to a nearly $1.4 million two-year contract that will provide mediation, leadership development. and executive coaching to the city leaders in an effort to improve communication.

NEW YORK CITY—Council Calls for Increased Oversight of School Contracts

City council members raised concerns about oversight of NYC Department of Education contracts following scrutiny of a recent no‑bid agreement. Lawmakers emphasized the need for stronger review processes, particularly for noncompetitive contracts, within a system that manages billions in annual spending.

WASHINGTON D.C.—Mayoral Primary Results Show Early Lead for Lewis George

Preliminary results from the mayoral primary show Councilmember Janeese Lewis George leading with 52.8% of the vote, followed by Kenyan R. McDuffie at 36.6% with 64% of ballots counted.

Taxes & Spending

BALTIMORE—Council Raises Homestead Tax Credit Cap

The City Council approved a measure increasing the homestead property tax credit cap from 4% to 5%. Supporters said the additional revenue generated by the change will help fund a reduction in the city’s property tax rate.

CHICAGO—Mayor Announces Budget Engagement Roundtables

Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) announced a series of citywide roundtables to gather public input on FY27 budget priorities in partnership with the Office of Community Engagement and the Office of Budget and Management. The initiative also includes an interactive budget scenario tool designed to help residents better understand funding tradeoffs and participate in the budget planning process.

LOS ANGELES—Voters Approve Three Tax Measures

LA voters approved Measure ER, imposing a 0.5% countywide sales‑tax increase for five years starting in October to fund county health services. City measures Proposition CB and Measure TC also passed, adding taxes on unlicensed cannabis businesses and online hotel booking platforms, respectively.

TWIN CITIES—MSP Officials Estimate $700M in Damage from Operation Metro Surge

Minneapolis officials released updated estimates indicating that Operation Metro Surge—a large-scale federal immigration enforcement operation—resulted in approximately $700 million in economic losses citywide. Minneapolis Director of Emergency Management Rachel Sayre said these are conservative estimates and that the actual impact is likely higher.

NEW YORK CITY—Budget Negotiations Continue as Deadline Approaches

City leaders continue negotiations over the upcoming fiscal year budget as the June 30 approval deadline approaches, with the council pushing for additional funding for programs, including rental assistance, transit subsidies, and consumer protection efforts.

PHILADELPHIA—FY27 Budget Enacted

Mayor Cherelle Parker (D) signed the city’s $7.1 billion FY27 budget into law following City Council approval. The final plan excludes several proposed taxes, including a rideshare per‑trip fee and increases to hotel and short‑term rental taxes, after failing to secure sufficient council support.

PITTSBURGH—City Council Introduces License Fee Bill on Mechanical Machines

The City Council is considering an ordinance that would implement an annual tiered “mechanical amusement device” license fee on entertainment consoles, pinball machines, and skill games to generate alternative municipal revenues amid ongoing budgetary deficits.

RICHMOND—Mayor Launches Employee Credit Card Program

Mayor Avula announced a 90-day soft launch of a restructured employee purchasing card (P-card) program that caps the number of active cards, introduces strict approval ratios, and enforces a tiered penalty framework to remedy $5 million in past municipal transactions.

WASHINGTON D.C.—Council Restores Funding in Revised FY27 Budget Plan

The D.C. Council voted to restore more than $400 million to programs reduced in Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) proposed FY27 budget, including funding for early childhood education, legal services, and paid family leave. A second vote on the budget is set for June 23.

Transportation & Mobility

CHICAGO—CTA Reports Ridership Gains & Safety Improvements

Chicago transit officials reported increased ridership and reduced crime, citing investments in service frequency and coordination with law enforcement.

NEW YORK CITY—DOT Reports Early Success of Microhubs Delivery Pilot

The city’s Department of Transportation reported early results from its microhubs pilot program, which supports shifting freight deliveries to smaller, lower‑emission modes. In its first year, the program facilitated the replacement of more than 3,000 truck trips with alternatives such as e‑cargo bikes and electric vans.

PHILADELPHIA—City Council Approves Ban on Carriage Horse Businesses

The City Council approved a ban on carriage horse operations, with the prohibition set to take effect later this month.

TWIN CITIES—Metro Transit Launches Wayfinding Improvements Pilot

Regional transit officials are piloting improvements to signage, maps, and digital tools to address wayfinding challenges and help riders locate bus stops, stations, and transit hubs.

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