SEPTA’s former boss, progressive preachers, a free groceries provider, legal aid lawyers, step dancers and a gospel choir made noise in LOVE Park Thursday to promote Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke’s new package of living affordability bills.

The measures O’Rourke introduced in council before the rally would create a new rent rebate for low-income tenants, make the city’s zero-fare SEPTA program permanent, and ban any future attempt to privatize Philadelphia’s Water Department. He also proposed a cost-of-living task force to recommend other affordability initiatives.

The councilmember, one of two from the Working Families Party, described the legislative package as part of a broader effort to push back against President Donald Trump’s villainization of government programs, and make govern

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