WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2026 — Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced that Sean Clerget has joined as senior principal in its Washington, D.C., office.
On Friday, the Mayor and DCWP Commissioner Sam Levine announced the expansion of the the City’s Protected Time Off Law, formerly known as the Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, granting workers an additional 32 hours of unpaid protected time off immediately available upon hire and again on the first day of each calendar year. Passed in October 2025, the law also expands the reasons employees may use protected time off to include caring for a child (such as during school holidays or child‑care disruptions), caring for a family or household member with a disability, attending benefits, housing appointments, or hearings, staying home during government‑declared public emergencies, and addressing needs related to workplace violence. View Local Law 145 here.
Last week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani released New York City’s preliminary Fiscal Year 2027 budget, which begins July 1, 2026. Citing a $12 billion budget gap that he attributes to fiscal mismanagement under the Adams Administration, the Mayor proposed closing the shortfall in part through a potential property tax increase. He noted that this option would be a last resort if the State does not raise taxes on high‑income earners and corporations, a policy he has consistently supported. He also directed each City agency to appoint a “Chief Savings Officer” to identify waste and reduce spending. Additional details on these cost‑saving measures are expected in the executive budget in late April 2026.
The preliminary plan maintains or increases funding in several key areas, particularly workforce investments. The Mayor lifted hiring restrictions and authorized agencies to fill longstanding vacancies to improve service delivery. He also allocated $5.3 million in FY26, $38 million in FY27, and a baseline of $42 million in FY28 to hire 200 attorneys and 100 support staff for the City’s Law Department. More information on the responsibilities of these new legal positions will be shared as it becomes available. See the full budget announcement here.
NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin and Chair of the NYC Council Finance Committee Linda Lee issued a statement denouncing the Mayor’s proposed increases on property taxes and calling for the Administration to identify other avenues to close the City’s budget gaps. Click here to read their statement. Over the coming weeks, the Council will hold a series of public hearings to review the Mayor’s preliminary budget.
New York City declared its second major storm emergency of the season on Sunday, with Mayor Mamdani issuing a local state of emergency ahead of a severe snowstorm that will impose a citywide ban on non‑essential vehicular travel from 9 p.m. Sunday to noon Monday, close all public school buildings for a full snow day, and activate Code Blue protocols to expand shelter access and outreach to unsheltered New Yorkers. The Department of Sanitation has mobilized thousands of workers, plows, and salt spreaders, along with the early deployment of hired emergency snow shovelers to clear crosswalks and other key pedestrian areas, while warming buses and emergency services prepare to support vulnerable residents throughout the storm. Meteorologists are also predicting additional snowfall later in the week.
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 23, 2026
February 19, 2026
February 19, 2026
