Pennsylvania officials are awaiting further guidance on federal funding cuts — impacting infrastructure, energy, transit, and more — with Governor Josh Shapiro’s office suing five federal agencies over $1.2 billion in...more
2/21/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
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Pennsylvania ,
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Mayor Parker Appoints New Housing Initiative Leader -
Mayor Cherelle Parker appointed Angela Brooks, who currently serves as director of the Corporation for Supportive Housing in Illinois, to oversee the Housing...more
2/21/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Community Development ,
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CHICAGO — Restaurant Workers Prepare as ICE Arrests Cast Uncertainty -Chicago restaurant workers are bracing for possible U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests, despite no confirmed raids. Fears have led...more
2/20/2025
/ Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Rights ,
Employment Policies ,
Eviction ,
Foreign Workers ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Immigration Reform ,
Labor Reform ,
Real Estate Development ,
School Districts ,
State Funding ,
Trump Administration ,
Undocumented Immigrants ,
Worker Protection Standard ,
Workplace Safety
Mayor Parker Unveils “Mission 30,000” Housing Plan -
Mayor Cherelle Parker outlined her “Mission 30,000” plan to build, preserve, and repair 30,000 housing units in Philadelphia during the Chamber of Commerce for Greater...more
2/14/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
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Housing Market ,
Low Income Housing ,
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Zoning Laws
Gov. Shapiro Sues Trump Admin. Over $2B Federal Funding Freeze -Governor Josh Shapiro has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for allegedly withholding over $2 billion in federal funds from Pennsylvania, despite...more
2/14/2025
/ Clean Energy ,
Energy Policy ,
Federal Funding ,
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Healthcare Workers ,
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Trump Administration
Gov. Shapiro’s Prison Closure Plan Sparks Debate Over Savings, Community Impact -
Governor Josh Shapiro's proposal to close two Pennsylvania prisons and two community corrections centers aims to save $110 million annually,...more
2/12/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
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Healthcare Reform ,
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Prison ,
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Unions
Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Balances Bipartisan Priorities -
Governor Josh Shapiro's third budget proposal aims to balance bipartisan priorities, incorporating both Republican and Democratic interests while navigating the...more
2/10/2025
/ American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Education Reform ,
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Pennsylvania ,
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Tax Credits ,
Tax Reform
City Council to Consider Labor Law Enforcement, Lead Paint Disclosure Deadline Bills -
During Thursday’s meeting, City Councilmember Kendra Brooks (At-Large) introduced legislation to enhance City enforcement of labor laws...more
2/7/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Disaster Aid ,
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Small Business ,
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On Tuesday, February 4, Governor Josh Shapiro delivered his third annual Budget Address to a joint session of the General Assembly, where he unveiled his $51.47 billion FY26 Executive Budget — marking an approximately 7.5%...more
2/6/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
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Pennsylvania ,
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State and Local Government ,
State Budgets
CHICAGO — Restaurants on Guard Against ICE -
Immigrants comprise roughly 40% of Chicago's restaurant workforce. Some restaurant owners have begun educating employees on their rights, providing required paperwork, and...more
2/5/2025
/ Employee Benefits ,
Employee Rights ,
Employment Litigation ,
Employment Policies ,
Federal Labor Laws ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Labor Reform ,
Minimum Wage ,
Real Estate Development ,
Union Elections ,
Unions
Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Proposal to Focus on Education, Transportation, Fiscal Responsibility-
Governor Josh Shapiro's upcoming budget proposal is expected to prioritize increased funding for the state’s poorest public...more
2/4/2025
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
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Pennsylvania ,
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Transportation Industry ,
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Jim Davis, Joe Hill Named Among City & State’s Who’s Who in GR -Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies Executive Vice President Jim Davis and Managing Director Joe Hill have been recognized by City & State Pennsylvania on their...more
City Council Turns Attention to Affordable Housing, Rental Regulations -During Thursday’s meeting, Philadelphia City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (District 3) introduced a legislative package to streamline zoning and...more
1/31/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Department of Transportation (DOT) ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Healthcare ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
New Legislation ,
Public Transit ,
Real Estate Development ,
Transportation Industry ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Zoning Laws
Parties Rush to Nominate Candidates for HD-35 Special Election-
Democrats and Republicans are quickly selecting nominees for the special election on March 25 to resolve the even split in the Pennsylvania House. Democrats...more
1/28/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Sector ,
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Federal Employees ,
Pennsylvania ,
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Public Utility ,
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State and Local Government ,
State Elections ,
Trump Administration ,
Unemployment
Special Election Set for SD-35 Following Passing of Rep. Gergely State Rep. Matt Gergely -
(D-Allegheny) passed away last weekend, leaving the state House once again tied 101-101. A special election will be held March 25 to...more
1/24/2025
/ Ballot Measures ,
Energy Policy ,
Immigration ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
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Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Minimum Wage ,
Pennsylvania ,
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State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Elections ,
Trump Administration ,
Voting Rights
Mayor Parker Expresses Openness to Working with Trump Admin.
Mayor Cherelle Parker expressed a willingness to collaborate with President Donald Trump on shared priorities, emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation to...more
1/24/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
City Councils ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration ,
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Real Estate Market ,
School Districts ,
State and Local Government ,
Substance Abuse ,
Trump Administration ,
Universities ,
Urban Planning & Development
CHICAGO — Data Shows City’s Labor Market Stabilizing -
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee said the latest jobs report suggests the labor market is stabilizing at full employment and is not a sign of an...more
1/23/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
City Planning Departments ,
Economic Development ,
Housing Developers ,
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Local Ordinance ,
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Public Transportation ,
Real Estate Development ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Rent Control ,
Sanctuary Cities ,
State and Local Government ,
Tax Policy ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Wildfires ,
Zoning Laws
The Philadelphia 76ers have abandoned plans to build a Center City arena, which was pitched as a critical development for East Market Street. Instead, the team will partner with Comcast Spectacor to construct a new arena near...more
1/17/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
City Councils ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
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Urban Planning & Development
Council Considers Performance-Based Funding for State Universities-
A council of lawmakers, university administrators, and the head of the Department of Education is exploring the benefits and challenges of tying public...more
New Leadership for PA General Assembly Committees-
The Pennsylvania General Assembly has appointed new chairs for its 52 standing committees, which play a crucial role in discussing, amending, and approving legislation,...more
1/14/2025
/ Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Debt ,
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General Assembly ,
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Medical Marijuana ,
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State and Local Government ,
Tenants ,
Transparency
New Legislative Session Begins-
Pennsylvania lawmakers began the 2025-26 legislative session this week, with Rep. Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia) reelected as House Speaker, securing the position with bipartisan support...more
1/13/2025
/ Budget Cuts ,
City Councils ,
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Voting Rights
Mayor Parker Marks Opening of Riverview Wellness Village-
This week, Mayor Cherelle Parker unveiled the new Riverview Wellness Village in Northeast Philadelphia, a key part of her administration’s strategy to address...more
CHICAGO — Jobs Slightly Down Since Last Year, State Data Shows -
The Chicago metro area experienced a 0.2% drop in non-farm jobs between November 2023 and November 2024. While private education, health services, and...more
1/9/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Arenas and Stadiums ,
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State Labor Laws ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour
Mayor Parker Launches City Progress Tracking Website Mayor Cherelle Parker launched Philly Stat 360, a website tracking the City’s progress on over 30 indicators, including safety, cleanliness, and economic opportunity. The...more
On Thursday, December 19, the Philadelphia City Council approved an 11-bill legislative package that will permit the Philadelphia 76ers to construct a new $1.3 billion arena in Market East. The bills include zoning changes,...more