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.
February 9, 2026
Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul selected former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her running mate in her 2026 reelection bid. Adams represented the 28th Council District, covering southeastern Queens, from 2017 to 2025 and served as Speaker of the City Council from 2022 to 2025. The announcement comes as Hochul’s current Lieutenant Governor, Antonio Delgado, is mounting his own primary challenge for Governor, positioning himself to the left of Hochul and naming progressive activist India Walton as his running mate. As Hochul and Delgado compete for the Democratic nomination, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a former member of the Nassau County Legislature, has emerged as the presumptive Republican nominee and announced Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino as his Lieutenant Governor selection.
Last week, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued Executive Order 13, aimed at protecting New Yorkers from abusive immigration enforcement and reaffirming the City’s sanctuary laws. The order restates that information collected by City agencies for municipal purposes must remain protected and may not be shared with federal immigration authorities except as required by law. It also requires agencies to designate a privacy officer, conduct training, and certify compliance within 14 days, and reaffirms that federal authorities may not enter City property without a judicial warrant.
Two high-ranking members of the State Legislature announced that they will not seek reelection. State Senator Brian Kavanagh, first elected to the Assembly in 2006 and elevated to the State Senate in a 2017 special election, said he will not run again, citing the need for a new generation of leadership. Kavanagh currently serves as Chair of the Senate Housing Committee and represents Lower Manhattan. Additionally, Assemblyman Will Barclay announced last week that he will not seek reelection and will serve out the remainder of his term, but will step down as Minority Leader to allow the Republican conference to select new leadership for the current legislative session and ahead of the upcoming elections. Barclay was named Minority Leader in 2020 and represents the Central New York area.
As part of a broader set of cold‑weather response measures to protect homeless New Yorkers during some of the coldest days of the year, the Mamdani Administration took steps to expand outreach and warming options. The City increased the number of mobile warming units, deployed additional street outreach workers, and mobilized units staffed with clinicians and support resources. These efforts were supported in part through a partnership with the Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless (ACE) to strengthen direct outreach. ACE deployed approximately 150 employees, many of whom have experienced homelessness, to conduct outreach across the five boroughs. The teams reached more than 100 individuals, shared information about nearby warming centers and drop‑in centers, and distributed flyers at more than 30 businesses and locations where unsheltered individuals often gather. The Mayor’s Office also coordinated with Business Improvement Districts citywide to help connect individuals to shelter and services and partnered with LinkNYC to add a kiosk feature allowing New Yorkers to locate the nearest warming center.
Ken Fisher and Rachel Scall, Land Use Attorneys at Cozen O’Connor, recently released an article examining key trends expected to shape Brooklyn’s development landscape in 2026. The piece highlights major public and private initiatives that could influence where and how growth occurs, from large-scale infrastructure investments to evolving policy priorities under the Mamdani administration. The article explores what these shifts may mean for the real estate market and for communities across the borough, as planners and developers look toward the next phase of Brooklyn’s transformation. Click here for the full article and updated Brooklyn Development Roadmap.
Co-Chair, New York Practice
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 10, 2026
February 9, 2026
February 9, 2026
