Councilmember Nicholas O'Rourke on Oct. 9 introduced a package of measures to address the city's cost-of-living pressures and to protect public control of water utilities. He introduced an ordinance to submit a Philadelphia Home Rule Charter amendment that would prohibit sale of the city's water supply and sewage systems and a separate ordinance creating a refundable real-estate-tax rent-refund program for certain low-income tenants.

O'Rourke described the franchise proposal as a voter-facing charter question he calls "We Own It," saying the measure would "ban the city from selling off our water department, which has been publicly operated for over 200 years. It will also keep our Philadelphia Water Department workforce a union workforce." He filed the charter-change ordinance and an accompanying resolution to submit the measure to voters; the bills were referred to the appropriate committees.

He also introduced an ordinance amending municipal code to provide refunds of real-estate taxes paid through rent by certain low-income renters, authorizing the Revenue Department to develop procedures and requiring landlords to supply documentation needed for tenants to apply. That bill likewise was referred to committee.

In remarks to the chamber, O'Rourke announced the "Affordable Philly Now" initiative: a task force and hearings on the cost of living that will examine transportation, housing and utilities. He cited prior council efforts — homestead-exemption expansions, repair grants, guaranteed-income pilots — and said the new task force will develop recommendations on making Philadelphia more affordable.

O'Rourke said he will pursue multiple pathways including charter changes because residents need immediate, tangible avenues to address economic stressors. "People need more avenues to plug into something to fight for some tangible material change that they can see in this moment," he said. The charter measures and the rent-refund ordinance were referred to committee; no final votes or ballot scheduling occurred on Oct. 9.

Councilmembers applauded the introduction and O'Rourke said he will continue to pursue committee hearings and stakeholder engagement for the proposals. The measures, if reported favorably by committee, could proceed to first reading and ultimately, if applicable, be placed on a ballot for voter consideration depending on council and administrative timelines.