Cozen Cities: March 11, 2026

March 11, 2026

Housing & Real Estate

LOS ANGELES—Housing Leaders Promote Combined Tenant‑Protection & Pro‑Housing‑Production Strategy

Los Angeles Councilmember Nithya Raman is advancing a housing approach that blends stronger tenant protections with expanded private and public homebuilding, reflecting a shift in the city’s politics as she argues that addressing affordability requires both preventing displacement and removing regulatory barriers to new housing construction.

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PITTSBURGH—Mayor O’Connor Unveils Overhaul of City Permitting Process

Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor (D) announced a modernization of the city’s permitting system, including immediate shifts toward “over-the-counter” permits for low-complexity projects, the implementation of AI to screen applications for missing data, and a transition of the public review meeting burden from volunteer-led Registered Community Organizations (RCOs) to city management.

RICHMOND—Mayor Avula Outlines $23M Housing & Tax Relief Proposal

Mayor Danny Avula (D) announced plans to include $23.1M in the FY26-27 budget to support affordable housing development and expand resident tax relief programs.

TWIN CITIES—Minneapolis City Council Extends Eviction Timeline

The Minneapolis City Council has voted to extend the required eviction notice timeline for renters following Operation Metro Surge, requiring landlords to give tenants 60 days’ notice before filing for eviction instead of 30 days, with the extension set to expire on July 31.

SEATTLE—Mayor Wilson Proposes 1,000 New Shelter Beds to Address Homelessness

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson proposed creating 1,000 new shelter beds by year’s end through expanded capacity at existing sites and expedited leasing for new shelters. The plan, which needs city council approval, also raises occupancy limits and expands tiny‑home villages to address the growing homelessness crisis.

Public Health & Safety

CHICAGO—Public Safety Committee Rejects Parent Accountability Proposal

The Chicago City Council’s Committee on Public Safety voted down a proposal that would have made parents responsible for certain offenses committed by their children, including curfew violations, street racing, and drug-, alcohol-, and firearm‑related incidents.

PITTSBURGH—Hateful Broadcasts Disrupt Public Safety Radio

Unauthorized broadcasts containing racist slurs, antisemitic rhetoric, and a death threat against Mayor Corey O’Connor (D) have disrupted a city-county public safety radio channel for three consecutive days, forcing emergency personnel to migrate to secure frequencies while the FCC and local police investigate the source.

TWIN CITIES—City Council Addresses Police Mental Health

The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved the creation of a new leadership role within the Minneapolis Police Department’s Health and Wellness Division, aimed at shifting the department toward a more preventative approach to supporting officers’ mental health.

Labor & Employment

LOS ANGELES—Hotel Minimum Wage Law Driving Job Cuts & Reduced Hours, Industry Says

Los Angeles’ Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance—which raised pay to $22.50 in 2025 and will increase to $30 by 2028—has led hotels to report losing roughly six percent of jobs (about 650 positions), cutting worker hours, and scaling back services as operators warn the mandated wage increases are becoming financially unsustainable

Policy & Politics

BOSTON—New Report Shows Major Tree-Canopy Growth, Consistent with the City’s 2030 Climate Action Plan

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D), joined by the Parks and Recreation Department, announced the release of a report that found significant citywide canopy growth from 2019 to 2024, including more than 150 new acres of tree cover on public land. The assessment is a step towards reaching the city’s wider climate goals outlined in the 2030 Climate Action Plan, which calls for a drastic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the next five years.

CHICAGO—City Council Poll‑Protection Ordinance Honoring Jesse Jackson

Chicago’s City Council is set to consider an ordinance honoring the late Reverend Jesse Jackson that would establish enhanced protections around polling places, including the creation of “democracy zones” extending beyond existing campaign‑free boundaries, barring federal immigration enforcement activity within those areas, and adding safeguards for election workers and voters, while addressing access issues such as required maintenance of tenant mailboxes.

DETROIT—Mayor Sheffield’s FY27 Budget Proposal Includes New Living Wage Standard for City Employees

On March 9th, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield (D) unveiled her FY27  budget proposal, which included the enactment of a “livable wage” standard for city employees. By July 1, full-time employees will receive a minimum $44,616 annual salary, setting a $21.45 minimum hourly wage based on a recent State of Michigan analysis that determined the amount of a living wage in Wayne County for a single adult.

SEATTLE—Seattle Blocks New Detention Centers

The Seattle City Council unanimously approved a one‑year moratorium on new detention centers, aiming to block potential federal or private facilities tied to immigration enforcement. The move responds to a federal notice about a possible 1,500‑bed site and echoes similar actions in nearby jurisdictions.

NEW YORK CITY—Governer and Mayor Roll Out Universal Childcare

Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul announced the first four communities to receive 2,000 free 2‑K seats this fall, launching the city’s universal child‑care initiative for two‑year‑olds. The program is slated to reach full universality by September 2026.

Taxes & Spending

BALTIMORE—BGE Pauses $500M Peninsula Bus Division Project

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) has paused design and engineering for its $500 million South Baltimore bus division project following reports of escalating costs and cooling development at the Baltimore Peninsula.

CHICAGO—City Council Committee Advances Hotel Tax, Backed by Industry

The Chicago City Council’s Finance Committee approved an ordinance that would let large Chicago hotels add a 1.5% surcharge to overnight stays to support Choose Chicago’s tourism promotion efforts, with the proposal now headed toward the full council.

LOS ANGELES—City Moves Toward Tax Amnesty for 500+ Cannabis Businesses Owing $400M

The Los Angeles City Council voted 13–0 to design a cannabis tax‑amnesty program that would waive penalties and interest and offer up to 36‑month payment plans for more than 500 licensed operators owing roughly $400 million, aiming to bring businesses back into compliance and recover an estimated $30 million in revenue while supporting enforcement against illegal shops.

PITTSBURGH—City Ended 2025 with $8.6M Deficit, Overtime Cost Overruns

Pittsburgh ended 2025 with an $8.6 million operating deficit after public safety bureaus exceeded premium pay budgets by $21 million, prompting City Council calls for increased fiscal oversight and new revenue streams.

RICHMOND—Budget Surplus Revised Down to $12.6M

Richmond’s audited surplus ending in June 2025 was $12.6 million, nearly $10 million lower than previous estimates, due to final revenue reconciliations and leadership turnover in the Finance Department.

TWIN CITIES—City Council, Mayor Her Fund Rental Assistance Program

The St. Paul City Council and Mayor Kaohly Her (D) partnered to reallocate $1.42 million to strengthen the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, expanding staff capacity and increasing direct support for residents seeking help with housing costs.

Transportation & Mobility

CHICAGO—CTA Given Two Weeks to Submit Revised Safety Plan

The Chicago Transit Authority has two weeks to submit a revised safety plan to federal regulators after the Federal Transit Administration rejected its initial proposal as inadequate, warning that about $50 million, roughly 25% of the agency’s operating funding, could be withheld if concerns about crime and safety are not addressed by the March 19 deadline.

PHILADELPHIA—City Receives $8.47M to Boost Transit for 2026 World Cup

Philadelphia secured $8.47 million in federal funding to expand public transit capacity ahead of this summer’s six World Cup matches, with officials saying the investment will help SEPTA increase service levels and ensure safe, reliable transportation for an expected 500,000+ visitors.

NEW YORK CITY—Judge Upholds New York’s Congestion Pricing Program

A federal judge upheld New York’s congestion pricing program, ruling that the Trump administration’s attempt to end it was “arbitrary and capricious.” U.S. Judge Lewis J. Liman sided with state officials who sued after federal transportation leaders moved to terminate the program, which first launched in early 2025.

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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