Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Bentley Graves as principal in its Minneapolis office.
Following a false gun alert that led to a student’s detention, Baltimore City Councilmember Mark Conway (D-District 4) announced plans to introduce a resolution for oversight hearings on AI-based weapons detection systems in schools.
Detroit launched the Tech Founder Residency Fellowship, offering $2,000 monthly stipends and free coworking space to recent Michigan graduates building startups in the city. Funded by the Michigan Growth Office, applications are open until December 1, 2025.
Los Angeles is partnering with Google Public Sector to integrate AI tools like Gemini into city operations as it prepares for the 2026 World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl, and 2028 Olympics. The initiative aims to improve traffic management, security coordination, and multilingual communications while training thousands of city employees in responsible AI use.
Waymo brought about a dozen all-electric vehicles to Seattle and the Eastside for manual mapping and data collection. Autonomous vehicle operations are not permitted in Washington, and the company has not provided a launch timeline. Protesters, including rideshare drivers, demonstrated at the rollout citing job and safety concerns.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott (D) signed four zoning and building measures eliminating off-street parking requirements, easing property line setbacks, and reducing stairwell mandates for mid-rise buildings to boost housing density and affordability. A separate proposal to allow multifamily units in single-family zones is still pending Council approval.
The Boston Planning Department granted permits to convert a former South End office building into 24 apartments under the city’s office-to-residential incentive program, which offers tax abatements and streamlined zoning to spur downtown revitalization and meet a goal of 1,000 new housing units by 2026.
The Philadelphia City Council began formal deliberations on the first-year budget for Mayor Cherelle Parker’s (D) Housing Opportunities Made Easy (HOME) Initiative, proposing nearly $195 million for housing programs, including major allocations for home repairs and preservation.
The San Diego City Council Select Committee on Addressing the Cost of Living advanced a proposal to ban or limit “junk fees” charged to renters. The proposed ordinance would cap monthly add-on fees at 5% of rent, prohibit charges for essential services, and eliminate monthly pet rent. Landlords warn it could increase operational challenges.
The D.C. Council approved an amendment to the Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants, and Landlords (RENTAL) Act removing two- to four-unit properties from the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), limiting tenants’ rights to buy or influence sales of small rental buildings.
The Los Angeles City Council is considering a proposal to study raising the minimum wage for construction workers on mid-sized apartment projects to $32.35 per hour, plus $7.65 in health care credits. Supporters say the increase would fight wage theft and improve living standards, while critics warn it could discourage new housing development in the city.
Mayor Scott announced a $4.7 million emergency package using city carryover funds and American Rescue Plan Act allocations to provide food assistance, rental aid, childcare support, and hospital-based violence prevention for low-income households and federal workers affected by the prolonged federal shutdown.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D) celebrated her reelection with supporters after running unopposed, pledging to continue her progressive agenda amid federal tensions and local challenges. Her campaign emphasized affordability, safety, and inclusive growth.
Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield won Detroit’s mayoral race in a landslide, becoming the city’s first woman mayor and pledging inclusive leadership focused on housing, transit, and neighborhood investment.
The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to seek greater oversight of parade permits requiring over $100,000 in city resources, citing rising costs from large public demonstrations. The motion directs the Los Angeles Police Department to report on bringing such permits before the Council for review and to include a cost-recovery analysis.
Progressive Zohran Mamdani (D) won the closely watched New York City mayoral race with a focus on affordability and broad grassroots outreach, becoming the first Muslim and South Asian mayor-elect in the city’s history. Mamdani received just over 50% of the vote, compared with former Governor Andrew Cuomo at 41.59% and Republican Curtis Sliwa at 7.11%. More than two million New Yorkers cast ballots, the highest mayoral turnout since 1969.
New York City voters passed three controversial housing measures that shift development power to City Hall, signaling growing support for building as a solution to the housing crisis. Voters also approved a measure to create a centralized digital city map.
Democratic incumbent District Attorney Larry Krasner defeated Republican challenger Patrick Dugan, securing reelection amid continued debate over his progressive criminal justice policies.
The Philadelphia City Council passed a bill requiring retailers to charge at least 10 cents per nonreusable paper bag, expanding on the city’s existing plastic bag ban. The measure’s future hinges on whether Mayor Parker signs or vetoes the legislation.
City officials unveiled the “Resilient Richmond” report outlining a 60-day financial backup plan, daily reimbursement tracking, and a funding task force to maintain essential services during the federal shutdown, while preparing for potential delays in over $90 million in federally supported programs.
The San Diego City Council voted 5-4 to raise water rates 31% over two years and sewer rates 31% over four years, citing financial necessity to avoid layoffs and credit risks. Critics said the hikes will burden low-income families, while officials stressed they are needed to fund infrastructure and avoid larger future costs.
Initial election results show progressive candidates leading in three Seattle City Council races, signaling a potential shift in the council’s political direction for 2026. Meanwhile, Mayor Bruce Harrell (D) holds a narrow lead over challenger Katie Wilson (D) in a race that remains too close to call.
No candidate secured a majority in the Minneapolis mayoral race, leaving the final outcome pending further ranked-choice tabulation. Preliminary results show incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey with 42% of the vote, followed by state Senator Omar Fateh at 32%, DeWayne Davis at 14%, and Jazz Hampton at 10%.
The D.C. Council is considering a bill to limit secondary market concert ticket prices to face value plus 10%, ban bot-driven bulk purchases, and improve consumer protections, while exempting sporting events from the proposed regulations.
The Baltimore City Council is considering a three-part legislative package to curb illegal smoke shops—including zoning restrictions near schools and parks, formal definitions for smoke shop operations, and limits on retail lighting brightness—to reduce youth exposure and improve public safety.
Mayor Scott announced a city initiative to place naloxone boxes with bilingual video instructions in all metro stations, funded through opioid settlement dollars, as part of Baltimore’s Overdose Response Strategic Plan to expand harm reduction and reduce overdose deaths.
The Detroit City Council passed an ordinance requiring police to release body- and dash-camera footage of serious uses of force within 30 days. Critics say it allows edits and narration that undermine transparency, while civil rights advocates and oversight board members argue the rule falls short of public trust standards and fails to ensure unaltered, timely video release.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and Police Chief Pamela Smith urged the D.C. Council to pass legislation allowing permanent juvenile curfew zones and an earlier citywide curfew. The Council will revisit the proposal next month after having rejected an earlier extension.
A majority of Chicago aldermen sent Mayor Johnson a letter urging him to drop his proposed $21-per-employee head tax on large companies, citing concerns it could hurt job growth and drive businesses out of the city.
Mayor Parker signed an executive order creating the “One Philly Support Plan,” allocating $7 million in city funds for food distribution, rental aid, and small business grants, alongside philanthropic and state contributions, to assist nearly 500,000 residents facing SNAP disruptions during the federal shutdown.
San Diego is considering a $5,000-per-bedroom annual tax on short-term rentals and vacation homes, which supporters say could raise $135 million and free up housing for residents. Critics warn it could put small hosts out of business, reduce tourism, and fail to meaningfully increase affordable housing, since most short-term rentals are locally owned.
The Seattle City Council floated more than $85 million in new 2026 spending, though only about $14 million is available without cuts. Proposals include $10 million for rental assistance, $10 million to stabilize affordable buildings, and nearly $5 million for reserves.
Minneapolis is exploring new revenue sources, including an income tax on wealthy residents and voluntary fees for tax-exempt organizations, to reduce its growing reliance on property taxes. State law limits the city’s taxing authority, so while an income tax would require legislative approval, fees and other city-imposed charges could be implemented directly.
Mayor Bowser announced that the city will allocate $29 million for SNAP and $1.5 million for WIC benefits to ensure food assistance for 85,000 households in November, using contingency funds that will be replenished in the 2026 budget.
Illinois lawmakers approved a $1.5 billion funding package that prevents massive layoffs and service cuts at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). The bill also provides stable funding for expanded bus and rail service, new technologies, and improved reliability for CTA riders.
Mayor Eric Adams (D) announced a $40 million initiative to install benches or leaning bars at roughly 8,750 eligible bus stops across the five boroughs that currently lack seating. Beginning this November, the city will add seating at approximately 875 stops per year over the next decade, prioritizing accessibility for older adults, parents, and people with disabilities.
Philadelphia City Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke (WFP-At Large) introduced a proposal to create a dedicated $30 million annual funding line for the Zero Fare program, which provides free SEPTA rides to low-income residents. The move comes as the two-year pilot nears its end and faces uncertainty without long-term financial support.
Mayor Danny Avula (D) reaffirmed Richmond’s pledge to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030, signaling continued investment in safety measures like speed enforcement, red light cameras, and infrastructure upgrades as part of the city’s long-term Vision Zero strategy.
Co-Chair, New York Practice
Managing Director
Managing Director
Co-Chair, New York Practice
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.
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.
February 12, 2026
February 12, 2026
February 11, 2026
