Philly Food Affordability Package

At a glance

Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard.

What: a set of measures introduced on 2026-10-08 on food access: a Home Rule Charter amendment creating an Office of Food and Nutrition Security and an advisory commission, an ordinance filling in the commission's duties, and two hearing resolutions on grocery stores and grocery pricing technology.
Where it stands: the charter ordinance, the charter resolution and the ordinance were referred to committee. Both hearing resolutions were adopted by voice vote the same day.
Next: committee action on the bills and scheduling of the two hearings. The charter question would go to voters at a special election.

Majority Leader Gilmore Richardson introduced for Council President Johnson an ordinance submitting the charter amendment to voters at a special election and a non-privileged resolution proposing the amendment.
Councilmember Ahmad introduced an ordinance paying members of the advisory commission and adding a Code chapter on the office's duties, the commission's makeup, reporting requirements and an online portal.
Landau offered a privileged resolution for the Committee on Technology and Information Services to examine surveillance, algorithmic and dynamic pricing in the grocery industry.
O'Rourke offered a privileged resolution for the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to examine city-supported grocery stores through public, private and community partnerships.

In closing remarks O'Rourke called the package the Philly Food Affordability Act, credited Johnson's focus on food and nutrition security and invited colleagues to draw on the cost-of-living task force report.

About 6 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-08 - City Council	6

2026-10-08 - City Council — Charter amendment, ordinance and two hearing resolutions introduced; the hearing resolutions adopted by voice vote.