New York Note: Client Spotlight, New B-HEARD Response, Pheffer Amato Re-election, Women Power 100

November 24, 2025

Client Spotlight: Studio Museum in Harlem

The Studio Museum in Harlem has opened its new home, a seven-floor, 82,000 square foot facility. Designed by Adjaye Associates with Cooper Robertson as executive architect, the building is intended to express openness and engagement while providing new spaces to elevate the museum’s service to artists, audiences, the Harlem community, and the wider art world. The $160 million project is supported by a combined $10.9 million state investment, including more than $7 million from the New York State Council on the Arts and $3.5 million from Empire State Development, recommended by the New York City Regional Economic Development Council.

Subscribe

New Model for B-HEARD Mental Health Response

Mayor Eric Adams announced that New York City’s Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division (B-HEARD), the city’s health-led response to nonviolent 911 mental health calls, will shift in spring 2026 to be fully operated and managed by NYC Health + Hospitals, with B-HEARD continuing to deploy medical and mental health professionals to nonviolent mental health emergencies. FDNY emergency medical technicians currently assigned to B-HEARD will be reassigned to other emergency units in an effort to improve response times for critical emergencies.

Assembly Member Pheffer Amato Will Not Seek Reelection in 2026

After nearly a decade of representing New York State Assembly District 23, which includes South Queens and the Rockaway Peninsula, Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato announced that she will not seek reelection in 2026. Pheffer Amato chairs the Committee on Governmental Employees. No one has yet declared that they will run for her seat in 2026.

Rose Christ and Katie Schwab Named to City & State NY’s 2025 Women Power 100 List

Rose Christ and Katie Schwab, co-chairs of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies’ New York practice, were recognized by City & State New York on its 2025 Women Power 100 list. Christ represents nonprofit, civic, and corporate clients on funding, policy, and land use issues, while Schwab develops advocacy campaigns for nonprofit, corporate, and trade association clients. Over the past eight years, they have led the growth of the New York practice’s team, expanded its client roster, and helped secure more than $70 million in state and city funds in FY26 for client programs and initiatives.

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.

Explore Articles and News

See All News