Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies (CPS) announced that Jessica I. Monahan — a transportation policy expert who has secured federal funding for a range of nonprofits, local governments, Fortune 100 companies, emerging businesses, and government contractors — has joined its Washington D.C.-based lobbying team as a senior principal.
Mayor Cherelle Parker marked her 100th day in office by unveiling her administration’s highly anticipated comprehensive plan to enhance public safety citywide, which includes measures to increase police presence across the city, address drug-related issues in Kensington, and improve school safety. The mayor also signed several executive orders in the past week, including the implementation of new anti-discrimination policies for City workers, the re-establishment of the City’s Capital Program Office, and the streamlining of City permit and licensing processes, to name only a few.
This morning, Philadelphia City Council passed an expansion of worker protections aimed at providing job security for Center City office building workers. The bill, which was pocket vetoed by former Mayor Jim Kenney in December, now heads to Mayor Cherelle Parker’s desk for approval.
Philadelphia’s Office of Homeless Services faced scrutiny from City Council members during this week’s budget hearings due to its overspending of nearly $15 million the previous year. Council members demanded further accountability measures and further investigation into the finances of OHS. Last week’s hearings wrapped up with a deep dive into the new Office of Clean & Green Initiatives.
The full schedule of FY25 budget hearings and a link to watch them can be found here. The following hearings are coming up next week:
Philadelphia City Council holds several public hearings throughout the legislative calendar year. Watch here.
On Tuesday, Superintendent Tony Watlington, Sr. announced that the Philadelphia School District will allocate $8.8 million to hire more teachers for overenrolled schools, thereby permanently discontinuing the controversial practice of “leveling” — shifting teachers to reflect actual enrollment weeks into the school year.
Philadelphia has made great strides in the past year, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts’ 2024 State of the City report, which found that the city has experienced a decline in poverty rates, violent crime, and the number of uninsured residents — who are now more educated than ever. However, the city still faces a number of challenges, including the ongoing opioid epidemic, a surge in property crime, and institutional struggles pertaining to the impending expiration of federal relief aid.
Delaware County-based Wawa celebrated its 60th anniversary this week with festivities across its stores nationwide. Celebrations at its Philadelphia flagship store included free coffee from retro ’60s cups and hoagies wrapped in ’60s-themed paper, as well as the unveiling of a Wawa exhibit at the National Constitution Center.
On Monday, Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced plans to expand the league to 16 teams by 2028, naming Philadelphia among the cities being considered for a franchise. The Bay Area is set to receive a team for the 2025 season.
Ahead of Pennsylvania’s primary elections next Tuesday, President Joe Biden accepted an endorsement by the Kennedy family during a speech in Philadelphia today, capping a week full of campaign stops throughout the Commonwealth.
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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.
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