Cozen Cities – May 28, 2025

Gig Economy & Technology

BALTIMORE—City Seeks Return of Sports Betting Lawsuit to Local Court

The City of Baltimore is requesting that its consumer protection lawsuit against DraftKings and FanDuel be moved back to Baltimore City Circuit Court, arguing that local adjudication is more appropriate for addressing concerns about the companies’ promotional practices and their potential impact on residents.

Housing & Real Estate

PHILADELPHIA—Proposal Requiring Developers to Legally Commit to Affordable Housing Advances

The Philadelphia City Council advanced a bill that would empower the City’s zoning board to require developers seeking zoning variances to make legally binding commitments to include affordable housing with the goal of increasing accountability.

SAN DIEGO—City Council Bans Algorithmic Rent Price-Fixing

The San Diego City Council passed an ordinance banning the use, sale, or licensing of algorithmic rent-setting software that relies on nonpublic competitor data to recommend rental rates or occupancy levels. The measure aims to prevent price-fixing and promote fairer housing practices in the city.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—City to Launch “RentRegistry”

D.C. is launching “RentRegistry,” a database that will identify rent-controlled properties and require landlords to report property details, aiming to improve tenant access, regulatory enforcement, and housing policy decisions.

Labor & Employment

CHICAGO—DOJ Probes City Hiring After Mayor Johnson Highlights Diversity

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating the City’s hiring practices following Mayor Brandon Johnson’s (D) remarks highlighting the racial makeup of his administration. Mayor Johnson stated that 45% of his administration is Black, 25% is Latino, 30% is white, and 8% is Asian, noting that previous administrations were composed primarily of white staff.

TWIN CITIES—Minneapolis Anti-Discrimination Protections Expanded

An amendment to the Minneapolis Civil Rights Ordinance bars employers from discriminating  against workers based on their height and/or weight, housing status, and criminal history. Under this amendment, employers are also required to provide employees with pregnancy and religious accommodations.

Policy & Politics

DETROIT—Meet the Motor City’s Top Mayoral Candidates

As Mayor Mike Duggan (D) prepares to step down after more than a decade in office, a competitive mayoral race allows residents to reimagine the city. The nine candidates have backgrounds in politics, business, nonprofit work, law, and community advocacy.

NEW YORK—DOJ Opens Probe Into Cuomo

The DOJ opened a criminal investigation into Andrew Cuomo, a frontrunner in the New York City mayoral race, over accusations that he lied to Congress about his pandemic decisions. The inquiry follows the dismissal of corruption charges against current Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for reelection as an Independent, raising concerns about potential political motivations behind the investigation.

NEW YORK—Mamdani Urges Support for Democratic Rival to Block Cuomo in Ranked-Choice Vote

With five weeks left in the Democratic mayoral primary, New York Assemblymember and candidate Zohran Mamdani urged his supporters to contribute to fellow Democratic contender Council Speaker Adrienne Adams in an effort to undermine Andrew Cuomo’s chances under the ranked-choice voting system.

PHILADELPHIA—Krasner Wins DA Primary, Poised for 3rd Term

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner (D) secured a decisive victory over challenger Patrick Dugan in the Democratic primary, positioning him for a third term in a race widely viewed as a bellwether for the national progressive prosecutor movement.

Public Health & Safety

BALTIMORE—Youth Diversion Program to Be Expanded Citywide

Baltimore plans to expand its SideStep youth diversion program citywide this summer following promising pilot results, though concerns remain over transparency, cost, and the program’s impact on crime reporting and prosecution.

CHICAGO—City Budget Chair Delays Vote on Youth Curfew Ordinance

City Budget Committee Chair Jason Ervin (D) used a parliamentary maneuver to delay consideration of an ordinance that would allow Chicago Police Department (CPD) Superintendent Larry Snelling to enact a citywide, three-hour curfew for minors with thirty minutes’ notice.

SAN DIEGO—SDPD Clear Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Backlog

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) eliminated its backlog of untested sexual assault evidence kits by outsourcing to a private lab and investing in internal lab upgrades, significantly improving testing turnaround times and compliance with state law while enhancing public safety and support for survivors.

Taxes & Spending

BALTIMORE—City Council Weighs Citizen Task Force for PILOTs Oversight

The Baltimore City Council is considering a citizen-led task force to advise on renegotiating payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreements with major nonprofits, aiming to increase transparency and ensure fair contributions amid budget challenges.

CHICAGO—Budget Group Begins Work to Plug $1B Shortfall

Loop Capital founder Jim Reynolds is leading a budget working group through City Council with the goal of finding the right balance of spending cuts and tax increases necessary to plug the City’s looming $1 billion budget shortfall for FY26.

LOS ANGELES—City Council Passes $14B Budget, Cuts Police Recruitment to Avert City Layoffs

Faced with nearly a $1-billion budget shortfall, the Los Angeles City Council approved a $14-billion budget for FY25-26, scaling back Mayor Karen Bass’ (D) public safety initiatives to avoid layoffs for 1,000 City workers. Passed in a 12-3 vote, the plan cuts funding for police recruitment, leaving the agency with fewer officers than at any point since 1995.

RICHMOND—City Council Approves $3B Budget

The Richmond City Council approved a $3 billion FY26 budget in a 6-2 vote, maintaining key investments in schools, housing, and infrastructure amid criticism from residents and some council members over the budget process and unmet community needs.

RICHMOND—City Council to Vote on 5-Cent Plastic Bag Tax Proposal

The Richmond City Council will vote on a proposed 5-cent tax on single-use plastic bags, expected to generate $400,000 in its first year and support environmental initiatives, with implementation planned for January 2026 if approved.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Mayor Bowser Unveils Emergency Budget Plan to Offset $1.1B Congressional Cut

To counter a sudden $1.1 billion budget shortfall caused by a Congressional funding freeze, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced a plan involving spending boosts under a 2009 law, hiring freezes, and targeted cuts to avoid layoffs.

Transportation & Mobility

BOSTON—MBTA Approves $9.8B Capital Plan

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) overseers unanimously approved a $9.8 billion five-year capital improvement plan for FY26-30, focusing on systemwide maintenance, modernization, and expansion.

CHICAGO—Transit Reform “On Track,” Funding Questions Remain

Chicago area transit agencies face a $770 million budget shortfall for FY26, which state lawmakers will not resolve without reform throughout the agencies. State Senator Ram Villivalam (D) said lawmakers are on track to pass legislation addressing the shortfall before the spring legislative session ends on May 31.

NEW YORK—Third Congestion Pricing Deadline Passes

For the third time, New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority missed a federal deadline to deactivate congestion pricing tolls. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy initially set the deadline in February, then extended it twice. Despite the ultimatum, the tolls stayed in place, with no changes in Lower Manhattan on the final deadline day.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Metro Cleared to Expand Self-Driving Trains

Metro received approval to expand self-driving train operations to more lines, although tensions persist with its safety watchdog, prompting local leaders to call for mediation and reforms to the commission overseeing Metro’s safety practices.

Share

Share this...

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Linkedin