Creative Housing Solutions Pop Up Across Oregon
DE Under 3: SCOTUS Stikes OSHA ETS Vaccine Mandate & EEOC/OFCCP HIRE Initiatives
Inside DC Podcast: FY2022 Budget Recap and the DC Council’s Fall Agenda
Homeless Assistance Centers and the NIMBY Response
Mayor Parker Announces Continued Support for SEPTA Fare Subsidies -Mayor Cherelle Parker announced plans to maintain funding for SEPTA fare subsidy programs that provide City employees and low-income residents with free rides...more
We have seen a dramatic increase in housing insecurity among our pro bono clients in recent years. Unfortunately, it’s part of an alarming nationwide trend. According to a recent report issued by the U.S. Department of...more
On Tuesday, January 16, 2025, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey delivered her second State of the Commonwealth Address. Below is a summary of some of the policy areas that she discussed during her nearly hour-long address...more
“Illinois doubled private investments in the state, as well as investments in clean energy, and quadrupled the number of retained jobs in 2024, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity said this week....more
In his 2025 State of the City address, Mayor Eric Adams detailed his administration’s efforts to create a safer, more equitable, and family-centered New York City. He noted achievements like reducing crime, expanding...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
Baltimore nonprofit Waves received a $2 million grant from Baltimore’s Office of Information and Technology to deploy fiber-optic networks in low-income residential buildings, aiming to bridge the city’s digital divide...more
After a 16-day bench trial, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter ruled that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must honor its commitment to provide housing and healthcare to veterans on the West Los Angeles VA Grounds....more
California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday announced that the state has filed a lawsuit against the city of Norwalk over its passage of an ordinance that blocks new homeless shelters and other housing projects....more
City Council Advances Arena Legislation - During Thursday’s meeting, City Council voted 11-5 to advance two largely procedural resolutions key to the development and construction of the Sixers’ proposed Center City arena....more
The western burrowing owl secured temporary protection this Thursday under California’s Endangered Species Act. The state Fish and Game Commission voted to give the owls candidate status and temporary protection, expected to...more
Public-camping ordinances across Virginia and the United States dodged a constitutional bullet that would have prohibited criminal penalties for violations those laws if the defendant did not have adequate access to shelter. ...more
BALTIMORE — City Council Investigates DPW Working Conditions -Baltimore City Council members criticized Department of Public Works (DPW) officials over unsafe workplace conditions following the death of a sanitation worker,...more
Gig Economy & Technology NEW YORK — City Deploys Drones for Major Storm Warnings- New York City emergency management officials have deployed five teams with multiple drones to warn residents in basement or ground-floor...more
We do not often highlight specific projects on this blog, but with the anniversary of 9/11 approaching, it seemed fitting to recognize two development projects in the area that will support our veterans....more
Amendments to the Pennsylvania School Code provide additional protections to students and families involved in residency disputes with their local school districts. The changes will take effect on September 16, 2024. The...more
A roundup of news and multimedia from the Unfamiliar Terrain team: San Francisco - S.F.’s Stonestown to become west side’s largest residential development in 50 years (SF Chronicle): The plan to convert the Stonestown...more
On June 28, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson finding municipal ordinances prohibiting camping on public property to be a constitutional exercise of local government...more
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston gave his first State of the City address today. Referring to Denver as the capital of the “New West,” he detailed a comprehensive vision for Denver, focusing on solutions to homelessness, public...more
NYC Council Introduces and Passes Legislation- Last Thursday, the NYC Council convened a Stated meeting, where they passed and introduced multiple pieces of legislation. The Council passed legislation to expand the...more
Until recently, local policies on homelessness have been guided by two controversial rulings from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals: Martin v. Boise (9th Cir. 2019) 920 F.3d 584 and Johnson v. City of Grants Pass (9th Cir....more
In the recent ruling in the City of Grants Pass v. Johnson et al., Case No. 23-175, decided on June 28, 2024, the United States Supreme Court reversed the Ninth Circuit’s earlier decision. This alters the legal landscape in...more
In response to a class action suit by homeless people challenging several anti-camping ordinances in the city of Grant Pass, OR, the U.S. Supreme Court explored the contours of the Eighth Amendment (“8A”) of the U.S....more
Policymakers have several tools for addressing the rising issue of homelessness in their communities. In City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, No. 23-175603 (June 28, 2024), the U.S. Supreme Court (“Court”) had its first...more
BALTIMORE — Gig Work on the Rise in Baltimore Area- Gig work is on the rise in the Baltimore area, becoming a predominant lifestyle choice for many individuals. The trend underscores a significant shift in employment...more