PHILADELPHIA, April 27, 2026 — Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Mikecia Witherspoon as principal in its Philadelphia office.
On Friday, Mayor Mamdani vetoed Introduction 175-B, but said he would allow Introduction 1-B to become law. The vetoed legislation would have required the NYPD to establish protest buffer zones around educational institutions. The Mayor cited overly broad language and constitutional concerns related to New Yorkers’ right to protest. Though the Mayor has not indicated whether he will sign Intro. 1‑B, which addresses protests near houses of worship, the legislation may become law within 30 days if the mayor neither signs nor vetoes it.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani established the City’s first Office of Deed Theft Prevention via Executive Order No. 16, and appointed Peter White, an attorney with Access Justice Brooklyn, as its director. Housed within the Department of Finance, the office will lead coordinated efforts with the Sheriff’s Office, the New York City Commission on Human Rights, and multiple City agencies and state and local partners to combat deed theft through enhanced enforcement, identification of suspicious filings, law‑enforcement coordination, public education, preventative safeguards, and improved interagency data‑sharing.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the appointment of Paul Ochoa, Shawn(ta) Smith‑Cruz, and Annie Levers to leadership roles across key City agencies and offices. Paul Ochoa, who will serve as Commissioner of the Department of Design and Construction, most recently served as Executive Deputy Commissioner at NYC DOT with prior senior leadership experience at DSNY and in the Mayor’s Office on legislative and infrastructure strategy. Shawn(ta) Smith‑Cruz, appointed Commissioner of the Department of Records and Information Services, previously served as Dean of the Barnard College Library, and Annie Levers, appointed Director of the Mayor’s Office of Operations, most recently served as Deputy Comptroller for Policy.
Speaker Julie Menin announced a proposal to reform New York City’s Construction Codes to unlock housing development on small, underutilized lots across the five boroughs, an initiative that could enable up to 35,000 new homes citywide without rezonings. As part of this effort, the Council launched a new Advisory Group on Housing Affordability, co‑chaired by Barika Williams, Executive Director of the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development, alongside other labor and development leaders. The group will help shape practical, safety‑focused policy solutions to address the city’s historic housing shortage and growing affordability crisis.
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.
April 27, 2026
April 27, 2026
April 27, 2026
