Nine leaders in public service are joining the minority whip’s Cost of Living Task Force, part of the “Affordable Philly Now” initiative. Longtime city servants, nonprofit leaders, and policy experts will contribute to the effort.
Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke (At-Large) is proud to announce the members of the Philadelphia Cost-of-Living Task Force, which was authorized by City Council in October as part of the Minority Whip’s “Affordable Philly Now” initiative.
As the authorizing legislation notes, this body’s task is “to study conditions, coordinate initiatives, and advance recommendations that ensure Philadelphia is a city in which all residents can afford to live and thrive.”
As a project of the Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy, the body’s work will culminate in a report detailing policy recommendations that Councilmember O’Rourke will bring to the committee for consideration as potential city policy.
“I’m excited to tell Philadelphians that an all-star team of public servants has joined the Cost of Living Task Force,” said Councilmember O’Rourke. “Our affordability crisis is multifaceted, so we need a team with a diverse range of experience, and I know these appointees more than meet the mark.”
Along with Councilmember O’Rourke, the Cost of Living Task Force is composed of:
Sister Mary Scullion, R.S.M. (Focus Area: Housing) — Co-Founder and former Executive Director of Project HOME, Sister Mary Scullion is a globally recognized leader in the fight against chronic homelessness.
Arthur Steinberg (Focus Area: Labor & Education) — President of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, Arthur Steinberg has long served Philadelphia with the PFT and as a special education teacher in the School District of Philadelphia.
Professor Leslie Richards (Focus Area: Transit) — Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design, Professor Leslie Richards has been a diligent public servant, helping Pennsylvanians move as the former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the former CEO and General Manager of SEPTA.
Eva Gladstein (Focus Area: Housing & Anti-Poverty) — Now retired, Eva Gladstein is a deeply committed public servant who spent over 20 years working for the City of Philadelphia, in roles spanning the inaugural Executive Director of the Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity to Executive Director of the Zoning Commission Chair to First Deputy Managing Director. Among her many accomplishments, she has led the implementation of the Eviction Diversion Program, co-chaired the City Council’s Special Committee on Poverty Reduction, and co-founded the Tenants Union Representative Network (fka Tenant Action Group).
Dr. Tyra Bryant-Stephens, MD (Focus Area: Healthcare/Childcare) — Associate Professor of General Pediatrics at Perelman School of Medicine, Dr. Tyra Bryant-Stephens is a pediatrician nationally recognized for her work on asthma disparities, including as founder of the Community Asthma Prevention Program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Marianne Fray, MBA (Focus Area: Healthcare/Childcare) — President and CEO of the Maternity Care Coalition, Marianne Fray is a longtime expert in organizational management and the world of health equity, preceding her nearly ten years at the MCC with another stint in leadership at the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association.
Dr. Najja Orr (Focus Area: Senior Care) — President and CEO of the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, Dr. Najja Orr also has served as PCA’s Chief Strategy Officer and director of the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging.
Vikram Patel, Esq. (Focus Area: Public Utilities) — Managing Attorney of the Community Legal Services Energy Unit, Vikram Patel also served as the Chair of the Public Interest Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association and serves on the association’s Board of Governors.
George Matysik (Focus Area: Groceries/Food Access) — Executive Director of the Share Food Program, George Matysik has been a mainstay in local and regional food access work as former Director of Public Policy at Philabundance, former President of the National CSFP Association, and founding Executive Director of Feeding Pennsylvania.
The task force will convene to investigate and produce policy solutions with the help of city expertise.
The Office of Nicolas O’Rourke will host a series of neighborhood town halls, one-off engagements, organizational meetings, and canvasses to capture a range of local cost-of-living concerns.
These two streams of study will come together in the final report, to be published next summer. A hearing in the Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy will follow in the fall to outline clear next steps.
Marianne Fray
“A family’s economic security is one of the greatest predictors of a child’s long-term well-being. After decades working alongside Philadelphia communities, we know how deeply affordability—whether for healthcare, childcare, or other basic needs—affects families’ daily lives. On behalf of Maternity Care Coalition, I’m honored to serve on this task force, and we look forward to collaborating with incredible partners to develop a path forward for an affordable Philadelphia for all.”
Eva Gladstein
“I am pleased to participate in Councilman O’Rourke’s Cost of Living Task Force. I spent 25 years working within City government on poverty alleviation, health and human services, and housing, community and economic development. This taught me the importance of meeting the immediate and basic needs of Philadelphia residents so that all of us can thrive; I am looking forward to joining with other Task Force members to stimulate new ideas and implement new programs.”
Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke
“I am grateful to entrust this group of knowledgeable individuals with providing fruitful solutions to maintain and extend affordability in our city. Their trust in me is just as deep an honor.”
