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.
Pennsylvania legislators are set to receive a large raise next year, as automatic annual cost-of-living raises are being reinstated for the first time since they were suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic. Because of this pause, as well as historic rates of inflation, the raises, which typically fall in the 1% to 3% range, may end up being significantly higher than usual. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has more.
On Wednesday, state officials announced the formation of a team whose goal will be investigating cases of financial abuse and exploitation of the state’s elderly population. The team, called the Financial Abuse Specialist Team, is comprised of four people and will fall under the purview of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.
Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan, the two former Pennsylvania judges behind what has been dubbed the “kids-for-cash” scheme, have been ordered to pay more than $200 million to hundreds of people affected by the scandal. The scheme involved sending children — often first-time offenders, sometimes as young as 8 years old — to for-profit jails for minor offenses such as jaywalking and truancy in exchange for financial compensation. The Associated Press has more.
Revenues from Pennsylvania casinos increased significantly in July after a lull in late spring. According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, casinos brought in more than $429 million in revenue in July alone, a $39.2 million jump from revenues in June. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has more.
Philadelphia ended last fiscal year with significantly more cushion than initially projected, encouraging some and alarming others. While some, like Mayor Jim Kenney and his administration, view the additional $405.8 million in fund balance as a good sign of the city’s ability to weather unforeseen economic downturns like the pandemic, others see it as evidence that budget negotiations didn’t go far enough. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy will be breaking ground later this month on a $30 million project to mitigate persistent flooding in 33 acres of wetlands in FDR Park. The restoration project will be funded by the Philadelphia International Airport as a means by which it can compensate for negative externalities caused by its recent air cargo facilities expansion. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
Over the next few years, West Philadelphia will gain 838 new multifamily rental units across four major developments. The new apartment buildings are expected to help revitalize local businesses, as well as potentially reverse the trend of declining population in the neighborhood. However, some residents have voiced concerns about the availability of affordable housing in the area. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
This week, progressives from across the nation will gather at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh for the first time since 2009 — and marks the conference’s first in-person event in three years. One of the event’s headliners is Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor Representative Austin Davis, who himself hails from Allegheny County. WESA has more.
Fraport Pittsburgh, the operator of Pittsburgh International Airport’s airmall, lost its bid to extend its services after an Allegheny Court denied a preliminary injunction request by the company. The request followed the termination of its contract in June by the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which will manage concessions operations moving forward. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has more.
Recent polling commissioned by Pittsburgh Works Together and conducted by Public Opinion Strategies shows John Fetterman and Josh Shapiro — the Democratic candidates for U.S. senate and Pennsylvania governor, respectively — have extended their leads over their Republican opponents. Among registered Pennsylvania voters who were polled, Lieutenant Governor Fetterman holds an 18-point lead over Dr. Mehmet Oz, while Attorney General Shapiro maintains a 15-point lead over Senator Doug Mastriano. PoliticsPA has more.
Recent internal polls, conducted by the Democratic polling firm GQR, show a tight race between Democratic Representative Matt Cartwright and his Republican opponent Jim Bognet for Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district. According to the poll, Representative Cartwright maintains a slim 6-point lead over Mr. Bognet. City & State Pennsylvania has more.
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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.
April 24, 2024
April 24, 2024
April 23, 2024
