Philadelphia’s Councilmember Nicholas O’Rourke is a part of the Working Families Party hoping to speak truth into power. 

O’Rourke is aiming to work with the Gas Commission to review Philadelphia Gas Work’s budget; the city’s public-owned utility company that serves millions of residents annually. O’Rourke details how anti-democratic actions are being placed to keep the service civically disengaged and touches upon bill targeting rental pricing algorithms, creating more affordable housing.

“We have this issue of the people, the public themselves, not being able to have access to the most public access of that process,” explained O’Rourke.

“The earlier stages of the process, advocates say, can influence the budget much more than any testimony at a public hearing. This is the part of the process that the reforms are restricting access to, and that’s something that we want to make sure that we call attention to is that folks recognize that there are anti-democratic measures afoot. Folks are trying to shut out the voice of the public in the most crucial points of influence…maybe we can mitigate some of the effects of the climate crisis.”

What O’Rourke further discloses is the staggering statistic that renters in Philadelphia make up 50% of the city, making rental pricing a significant issue. His legislation that is awaiting implementation into law, aims to protect renters from rising costs due to algorithm-based and data-driven rent increases utilized by landlords and developers.

“AI technology is getting out way farther ahead of us and really creating a disparity in terms of knowledge and database,” O’Rourke said. “If we cannot catch up with the algorithm, then our job as elected officials is to protect the citizenry. I’m a renter. Most of the people that you know probably are renters before they’re homeowners. Until we address this housing crisis that we have and have enough shelter for folks, then we need to protect renters in the meantime and fight for tenants’ rights.”

 O’Rourke concludes with an encouraging public engagement, input and voting as essential parts of Democracy. To hear more of O’Rourke’s stance and legislative process to protect renters, listen to the full segment on ecoWURD hosted by P.O.C. on SoundCloud below.