Housing & Real Estate

BALTIMORE—Bill Introduced to Address Housing Shortage

On Monday, Mayor Brandon Scott (D) introduced his Housing Options & Opportunity Act, which aims to expand zoning laws for multi-family homes and provide more housing options to meet the needs of Baltimore’s growing population.

BOSTON—Report Shows Looming Budget Shortfall

Boston faces a potential $1 billion budget shortfall as declining commercial real estate values shift the tax burden to homeowners. The pandemic and rising property values have strained the City’s tax structure. While Mayor Michelle Wu (D) pushes for tax reforms, critics warn they could worsen commercial real estate challenges and hurt long-term finances.

CHICAGO—City Becomes Residential Developer

The Chicago City Council approved Mayor Brandon Johnson’s (D) plan to create a city-run nonprofit that would build and maintain housing developments. The plan was designed to create more affordable housing across the city’s wealthy neighborhoods.

SEATTLE—Mayor Harrell Fights Housing Shortages

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell (D) signed two bills to address vacant storefronts, support small businesses, and preserve up to 29,000 housing units by expanding street-level business uses and extending permits for stalled projects.

TWIN CITIES—St. Paul City Council Amends Rent Control Ordinance

The St. Paul City Council voted 4-3 to expand rent cap exemptions to all units in properties built after 2005, amending the city’s rent control ordinance.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Homelessness Drops 9%

Homelessness in Washington, D.C. decreased by 9% over the past year, with 478 fewer unhoused individuals, as the city implemented expanded shelter programs and preventive measures amidst rising political pressure.

Labor & Employment

PHILADELPHIA—City Council Passes POWER Act

The Philadelphia City Council passed the “Protect Our Workers, Enforce Rights” (POWER) Act to enhance local worker protections and address concerns about the Trump administration’s workplace policies. The act includes provisions for direct financial compensation, thorough investigations, and new immigration protections for undocumented workers.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Mayor Bowser Pushes for Tipped Minimum Wage Repeal

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) plans to repeal a 2022 law raising the minimum wage for tipped workers as part of her fiscal 2026 budget proposal, aiming to support struggling businesses and counteract federal workforce cuts.

Policy & Politics

NEW YORK—City Council Begins Executive Budget Hearings

Last week, Mayor Eric Adams (D) released New York City’s $115.1 billion Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget, focusing on investments in public safety, criminal justice reform, affordable housing, education, and cleanliness. This week, the City Council began three weeks of Executive Budget hearings, during which the body will engage in budget negotiations with the mayor.

NEW YORK—Cuomo to Run on Independent Ballot Line

In the race for New York City mayor, Andrew Cuomo announced he will also seek an independent ballot line, "Fight and Deliver," for the general election, despite his sizable lead ahead of the Democratic primary. This move aims to appeal to disillusioned Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, especially with incumbent Mayor Eric Adams running as an Independent.

Public Health & Safety

BALTIMORE—Community Groups Receive Limited Funds to Combat Overdoses

Despite Baltimore securing $180 million from opioid lawsuits, only $2 million is allocated for community organizations in the upcoming year, raising concerns among local advocates about the distribution of funds.

CHICAGO—Fewest Murders in the Month of April Since 1962

Chicago is on pace to hit Mayor Johnson’s goal of having fewer than 500 murders in 2025, with only 116 murders spanning across the months of January to April. April alone had only 20 reported murders, which is the month’s lowest count since 1962.

LOS ANGELES—Proposed LAPD Civilian Staff Layoffs Raise Concern

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ (D) proposal to cut more than 400 civilian positions within the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is facing pushback from City leaders, who voiced that officers may end up being taken off the street to fill the cut technical positions.

TWIN CITIES—Minneapolis Mayor Calls Public Safety a Top Priority

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) stated that the city is the safest it has been in years, citing the decline in shootings on the city’s north side over the last year and the general decrease in violent crimes across the city.

Taxes & Spending

CHICAGO—Chicago Schools Property Taxes Up 62% in 15 Years

More than half of a Chicago homeowner’s property tax bill goes towards supporting the Chicago Public Schools system, or roughly $2,059 per property. This is a 62% increase from what Chicago residents paid 15 years ago.

CHICAGO—Cook County Tax Burden Shifts

Between 2021 and 2023, Chicago businesses saw property tax bills drop by nearly 20%, while homeowners faced a 16% increase, shifting nearly $2 billion in tax burden onto Cook County’s lowest-income homeowners.

DETROIT—Entertainment Tax Gaining Steam

The Citizens Research Council of Michigan seeks to partner with Detroit officials to offset residents’ high property taxes by implementing an entertainment tax, targeting visitors who utilize the city’s infrastructure for large live events.

RICHMOND—Botched Tax Rebate Process Raises Concerns

An audit revealed that over 8,000 real estate tax rebate checks intended for Richmond homeowners were mistakenly sent to a homeowners association, highlighting significant errors and inefficiencies in the City's finance department.

Transportation & Mobility

PHILADELPHIA—SEPTA, PPA Launch AI-Powered Bus Cams

SEPTA and the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) officially began using AI-powered cameras on buses to ticket drivers parked illegally in bus lanes. The initiative follows a successful pilot program that identified thousands of violations on just two routes.

SAN DIEGO—San Diego Eyes Transit Cuts to Tackle Deficit

In an attempt to address the City’s $258 million budget deficit, San Diego City leaders are considering making cuts to the Transportation Department’s funding. The proposed cuts include a reduction to $350,000 in supplies for traffic signal repairs.