City Offers Support for Small Businesses as Tax Exemption is Phased Out -Philadelphia is supporting small businesses through flexible payment plans, free tax assistance, and access to grants as it phases out a longstanding...more
8/8/2025
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BOSTON—City’s First Office-to-Residential Conversion Project Begins -Construction has officially begun on Boston’s first office-to-residential apartment conversions. This effort is a part of a City pilot program aimed at...more
7/24/2025
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Mayor Parker Strikes Deal with DC 33 -
Trash collectors and other frontline City workers will return to work after the Parker administration reached a deal with AFSCME District Council 33 early Wednesday morning. The...more
7/11/2025
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Unions ,
Wage and Hour
Philly to Invest in 15 More “Year-Round” Schools -
Mayor Charelle Parker announced that Philadelphia will invest in 15 new extended-day, extended-year schools. The list comprises ten conventional Philadelphia public schools...more
7/3/2025
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WNBA
City Invests in Certifying CTE Teachers-
Philadelphia City Council allocated $500,000 to help Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers cover certification costs, addressing a teacher shortage and supporting growing...more
6/26/2025
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NEW YORK—Waymo Applies for NYC Permit -
Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving car unit, plans to begin manually operating vehicles in Manhattan as a first step toward launching autonomous ride-hailing in New York City. The company...more
6/26/2025
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Curfews ,
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Mayor Parker, Council President Johnson Reviving 90s-Era Collaboration -Over the first year in their respective positions, Mayor Cherelle Parker and City Council President Kenyatta Johnson have intentionally worked to build a...more
6/19/2025
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BOSTON—City Receives $7.4M for Office-to-Residential Conversions -Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey (D) allocated $7.4 million to support two office-to-residential conversion projects in downtown Boston, part of a broader...more
6/12/2025
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FY26 Budget Negotiations Entering HOME Stretch -
Thursday marks the final opportunity for the City Council to advance bills—including those tied to Mayor Cherelle Parker’s $6.7 billion proposed budget and Housing...more
6/6/2025
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Gov. Shapiro Proposes Doubling Agricultural Innovation Grant Funding -Governor Josh Shapiro (D) is proposing increasing Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Innovation Grant program funding to $23 million to support new technologies...more
5/9/2025
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Federal Budget ,
Healthcare ,
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State Legislatures
Mayor Parker Transmits First HOME Initiative Bills to City Council-
During Thursday’s meeting, City Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr. (District 5) introduced a bill that would eliminate specialized zoning overlays in his...more
NEW YORK—Mayor Adams, CTO Announce City’s First Crypto Summit-
New York Mayor Eric Adams (D) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Matthew Fraser will host New York City’s first Crypto Summit next month, bringing together...more
Mayor Parker's Housing Plan Relies on $800M in Bonds-
Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Housing Opportunities Made Easy (HOME) Initiative aims to build or preserve 30,000 housing units in Philadelphia, primarily funded through $800...more
4/18/2025
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CHICAGO—City Begins Converting Loop Office Buildings to Housing -Chicago’s La Salle Corridor Revitalization Initiative kicked off last week, beginning with the transformation of a historic 14-story Loop office building into...more
CHICAGO—City Incentives Aim to Attract Data Centers -
Chicago is positioning itself to capitalize on the data center boom, with the City Council adopting an ordinance offering incentives for developers to store municipal...more
3/20/2025
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Data Centers ,
Employment Policies ,
Gig Economy ,
Labor Reform ,
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Property Tax ,
Public Health ,
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State Taxes ,
Tax Incentives ,
Technology
On Thursday, March 13, Mayor Cherelle Parker delivered her second annual Budget Address to the Philadelphia City Council, unveiling her $6.77 billion FY26 Budget proposal—an approximately $400 million increase over the FY25...more
3/18/2025
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Business Taxes ,
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Urban Planning & Development
Mayor Parker Delivers FY26 Budget Address-
Mayor Cherelle Parker presented her $6.7 billion FY26 budget proposal to the Philadelphia City Council today, highlighting an $800 million housing plan, significant business tax...more
BALTIMORE—City Moves Closer to Creating Consumer Protection Agency -The Baltimore City Council advanced a bill to establish its own consumer protection agency, modeled after similar agencies in nearby Howard and Montgomery...more
3/6/2025
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Tax Reform Commission Recommends Eliminating BIRT, Reducing Wage Tax -
The Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission released its interim report this week, proposing that the City eliminate the Business Income & Receipts Tax...more
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
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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
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Trump Administration ,
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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
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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
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Disaster Relief Fund ,
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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
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Employee Rights ,
Employment Litigation ,
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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
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