Cozen O’Connor: Westbrooks, Brianna

Recent Publication:
Broad Street Brief: City Council Returns This Fall Virtually, Ida’s Floods Weren’t Outliers: City Faces Increasing Flood Risk
Although City Council was planning on returning to in-person meetings later in September, Council President Clarke announced that City Council will continue to meet virtually due to the spread of the Delta variant. Its first fall legislative session is on Friday, September 17.

Brianna collaborates with local, state, and federal legislators and regulators to advance her clients’ positions. She has experience researching, analyzing, and drafting policy; coordinating with diverse stakeholders; and developing policy and advocacy campaigns.

Before joining Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies, Brianna was the government affairs manager for the Pennsylvania Apartment Association, where she developed and implemented government affairs strategies and special projects. In that role, she collaborated with stakeholders to secure $210 million in state and local funding toward COVID-19 rental assistance.

Brianna also gained valuable experience in the Office of Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke and in the Office of Philadelphia City Councilman-at-Large Ed Neilson, where she served for a combined year as a research and policy development intern.

News

Big Law Firm Adds Full-Time Lobbyist in Philadelphia City Hall [Philadelphia Business Journal]

January 27, 2021

Brianna Westbrooks joining Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies is the focus of a Philadelphia Business Journal article titled, "Big Law Firm Adds Full-Time Lobbyist in Philadelphia City Hall."

Cozen O’Connor Expands Public Strategies Practice with the Addition of Government Affairs Professional Brianna A. Westbrooks

January 25, 2021

Westbrooks is experienced in regulatory and legislative policy and procedure, with extensive relationships with the Philadelphia City Council.

Publications

Broad Street Brief: City Council Returns This Fall Virtually, Ida’s Floods Weren’t Outliers: City Faces Increasing Flood Risk

September 09, 2021

Although City Council was planning on returning to in-person meetings later in September, Council President Clarke announced that City Council will continue to meet virtually due to the spread of the Delta variant. Its first fall legislative session is on Friday, September 17.

Broad Street Brief: Philadelphia Institutes Indoor Mask Mandate and Vaccine Policy for Employees

August 12, 2021

As the Delta variant continues to spread, governments and businesses across the country are considering changing their COVID-19 protocols.

Broad Street Brief: Gun Violence Debate Continues in City Hall As Victim Numbers Grow

July 29, 2021

Philadelphia’s elected officials continue to spar over the city’s gun violence epidemic, resulting in dueling press conferences and high tensions.

Broad Street Brief: Anti-Eviction Programs Extended as City Distributes Millions in Relief and Eyes Permanent Changes to Housing Policy, Philadelphia’s Pandemic Paid Leave Law Expires, But Other Labor Changes on the Horizon

July 15, 2021

Philadelphia’s eviction diversion and rental assistance programs will stay in effect until at least August 31, thanks to a favorable ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The city reports that over 35,000 have applied for rent relief, and that the city is on track to distribute $37 million in aid by September 1.

Broad Street Brief: $5.2 Billion City Budget Goes into Effect, Councilmembers Gauthier and Quiñones Sánchez Target Gentrification with Mixed Housing Bill

July 01, 2021

Philadelphia’s latest budget goes into effect today, containing $5.2 billion in spending and a host of programs designed to curb Philadelphia’s increasing gun violence rates.

Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning Introduced in Philadelphia City Council [Alert]

June 25, 2021

Joseph Hill & Brianna Westbrooks discuss Councilmembers Quiñones Sánchez and Gauthier's legislation that would institute mandatory inclusionary zoning in select areas of the city.

Broad Street Brief: City Council Set To Vote on Final Budget, Councilmember Johnson Looks to Increase Compensation for PHL Workers

June 24, 2021

Philadelphia City Council is slated to give final approval to the city’s $5.2 billion budget today, capping a marathon of negotiations on a variety of different issues and funding streams.

Broad Street Brief: Council and Kenney Reach Budget Compromise, Council Passes Two Tenant-Support Bills Out of Committee

June 18, 2021

After extensive debate and negotiations, City Council approved an amended version of Mayor Kenney’s budget proposal late last night.

Philadelphia City Council and Mayor Kenney Reach Budget Compromise [Alert]

June 18, 2021

On June 17, Philadelphia City Council approved amendments to the budget that Mayor Kenney initially presented in April.

Broad Street Brief: Budget Negotiations Between Mayor Kenney and City Council Continue, Federal Update: American Jobs Plan Negotiations Between White House and GOP Move to New Phase

June 10, 2021

City Council and Mayor Kenney are still working towards reaching a consensus around tax policy and key city investments. Changes to the wage tax, business and receipts tax, and the parking tax are still being debated.

Broad Street Brief: Council Looks to Incentivize Vaccines, New Police Oversight Board Passes Council

June 03, 2021

Members of City Council will review two proposals to incentivize vaccines citywide. The first proposal would give residents a $50 credit to use on Philadelphia Gas Works and Water Department bills, and the other would create $50 vouchers that can be used “in a manner to be determined by the City.” Both proposals would be capped at 100,000 vouchers.

Broad Street Brief: Councilmembers Quiñones-Sánchez and Gauthier Look to Reform Affordable Housing Requirements. Councilmember Johnson Seeks Demolition Moratorium for ‘Doctors’ Row’

May 27, 2021

New legislation proposed by Councilmembers Maria Quiñones-Sánchez and Jamie Gauthier is taking aim at how the city requires developers to support affordable housing.

Broad Street Brief: Council Approves Bonds to Finance Neighborhood Preservation Initiative; Majority Leader Parker Proposes Parking Tax Reduction

May 20, 2021

On Thursday, City Council passed legislation that authorized $400 million in bonds to finance the Neighborhood Preservation Initiative (NPI).

Broad Street Brief: City Announces Reopening Plan; Airport Worker Legislation Introduced; Budget Hearings Continue

May 13, 2021

On Tuesday, the Kenney administration announced that it would be lifting pandemic related restrictions on businesses. Restaurants, offices, casinos, museums, and other indoor venues will have increased capacity limits beginning May 21.

Broad Street Brief: Racial Equality; Tax Reductions; Gun Violence

May 06, 2021

On Monday, budget season officially began as City Council asked questions of the Kenney administration. Gun violence, racial equity, proposed tax reductions, and economic recovery were the main topics councilmembers raised during their questioning.

Broad Street Brief: Council Passes Legislation Prohibiting Marijuana Testing for Employment; Housing Transitions to Solar

April 29, 2021

On Thursday, City Council introduced a resolution to form a special committee that would create and recommend strategies to ensure equity and inclusion in city infrastructure projects.

Broad Street Brief: Details on the Mayor’s budget proposal, Proposal to protect renters; Funding for the School District; Land-value taxation

April 22, 2021

News and intelligence for professionals on the front lines of policy in the city and suburbs of Philadelphia.

Brianna A. Westbrooks

Recent Publication:

Broad Street Brief: City Council Returns This Fall Virtually, Ida’s Floods Weren’t Outliers: City Faces Increasing Flood Risk

News

Big Law Firm Adds Full-Time Lobbyist in Philadelphia City Hall [Philadelphia Business Journal]

Cozen O’Connor Expands Public Strategies Practice with the Addition of Government Affairs Professional Brianna A. Westbrooks

Publications

Broad Street Brief: City Council Returns This Fall Virtually, Ida’s Floods Weren’t Outliers: City Faces Increasing Flood Risk

Broad Street Brief: Philadelphia Institutes Indoor Mask Mandate and Vaccine Policy for Employees

Broad Street Brief: Gun Violence Debate Continues in City Hall As Victim Numbers Grow

Broad Street Brief: Anti-Eviction Programs Extended as City Distributes Millions in Relief and Eyes Permanent Changes to Housing Policy, Philadelphia’s Pandemic Paid Leave Law Expires, But Other Labor Changes on the Horizon

Broad Street Brief: $5.2 Billion City Budget Goes into Effect, Councilmembers Gauthier and Quiñones Sánchez Target Gentrification with Mixed Housing Bill

Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning Introduced in Philadelphia City Council [Alert]

Broad Street Brief: City Council Set To Vote on Final Budget, Councilmember Johnson Looks to Increase Compensation for PHL Workers

Broad Street Brief: Council and Kenney Reach Budget Compromise, Council Passes Two Tenant-Support Bills Out of Committee

Philadelphia City Council and Mayor Kenney Reach Budget Compromise [Alert]

Broad Street Brief: Budget Negotiations Between Mayor Kenney and City Council Continue, Federal Update: American Jobs Plan Negotiations Between White House and GOP Move to New Phase

Broad Street Brief: Council Looks to Incentivize Vaccines, New Police Oversight Board Passes Council

Broad Street Brief: Councilmembers Quiñones-Sánchez and Gauthier Look to Reform Affordable Housing Requirements. Councilmember Johnson Seeks Demolition Moratorium for ‘Doctors’ Row’

Broad Street Brief: Council Approves Bonds to Finance Neighborhood Preservation Initiative; Majority Leader Parker Proposes Parking Tax Reduction

Broad Street Brief: City Announces Reopening Plan; Airport Worker Legislation Introduced; Budget Hearings Continue

Broad Street Brief: Racial Equality; Tax Reductions; Gun Violence

Broad Street Brief: Council Passes Legislation Prohibiting Marijuana Testing for Employment; Housing Transitions to Solar

Broad Street Brief: Details on the Mayor’s budget proposal, Proposal to protect renters; Funding for the School District; Land-value taxation

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Mayor Kenney Proposes Budget for Fiscal Year 2022

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Proposal to Reduce Taxes Introduced in Philadelphia City Council

Progressive Paid Leave Policy Introduced in Philadelphia City Council [Alert]

Practice Areas

Education