[WEBINAR] Who Does What? Defining Proper Roles for Staff and Elected Officials
Ethics Laws and the Importance of Transparency for Public Officials
On August 14, 2025, the New York City Council voted to approve the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, as modified by the City Council Land Use Committee....more
We start our August Alert with some potentially very good news. The RENTAL Act, a bill to reform TOPA, passed its first vote by the DC Council on July 28, 2025. The RENTAL Act includes, among other things, a blanket exemption...more
BOSTON—City Joins Data Alliance to Boost Services - Boston is partnering with the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance to improve resident services using AI and analytics. The City aims to modernize 311 notifications...more
Hochul Calls for National “Assault Weapon” Ban- Following the tragic mass shooting in Manhattan this past week, Governor Kathy Hochul urged federal lawmakers to strengthen national gun safety laws. The gunman entered a...more
The New York City Charter Revision Commission voted this week to place five proposed amendments on the November ballot. The first bill would create a more streamlined process for reviewing publicly financed affordable...more
On July 21, 2025, the New York City Charter Revision Commission (CRC) voted to include five proposed amendments to the City Charter on this year’s New York City general election ballot, including measures that would expedite...more
On June 30, the City Council formally adopted the $115.9 billion FY 2026 budget. The budget includes funding to pilot a new free child care program for children under 2 years old, along with a significant increase in City...more
Last week, Mayor Cherelle Parker announced the appointment of Tyrell Brown as Director of LGBTQ+ Affairs, Andy Toy as Director of the Home Appraisal Program, Robin Torrance as Director of Pan Hellenic & HBCU Engagement, and...more
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
Dive into the essential issues shaping municipalities, villages, and local governments in 2025. Our experienced attorneys will present concise 15-minute sessions on key topics, including: 1. Introduction: Top 10 Things...more
Yesterday, the City Council (by a vote of 31 to 20) approved the modified City of Yes for Housing Opportunity text amendment (COYHO), which aims to combat the housing crisis by making it possible to build a little more...more
Last week, Denver City Councilmembers Amanda Sawyer, Diana Romero Campbell and Paul Kashmann announced a proposed amendment to the Denver Zoning Code to prohibit new gas stations within a quarter mile from light rail stations...more
Gunfire on Benjamin Franklin Parkway Injures Two Police Officers, Brings City’s Independence Day Celebrations to an Unsettling Close- On Monday evening, two police officers were shot near the Philadelphia Museum of Art as...more
Major Changes to the Zoning Board of Adjustment Approved by Council Committee- On Tuesday, the Committee on Law and Government unanimously approved a measure that would allow Philadelphia voters to decide if the Zoning...more
A court could properly direct a city council to correct internal inconsistencies in its general plan resulting from adoption of an initiative. Denham, LLC v. City of Richmond, 41 Cal. App. 5th 340 (2019). The Richmond City...more
A Land Court ruling late last week chipped away at the several arguments raised by local opponents to a large proposed grow operation in Charlton, Massachusetts. See Valley Green Grow, Inc. v. Charlton, 2019 WL 1087930 (Land...more
No State Preemption of Local Billboard Regulations, California Appellate Court Finds - The Outdoor Advertising Act does not preempt local regulation of billboards, a California appellate court has ruled. In a decision...more