News - Green Party of Philadelphia

Water Rate Board Refuses to Answer Questions; Tries to Bar Video Recording at Hearing

by
53sc
on May 19, 2026

BY Lance Haver for the Philadelphia Hall Monitor on 3.18.2026

https://hallmonitor.org/water-rate-board-refuses-to-answer-questions-tries-to-bar-video-recording-at-hearing/

This past Thursday, May 14, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), the Philadelphia Water Rate Board — the body that decides on water rate increases — and an “advocate” appointed by the rate board, argued before a hearing examiner appointed by the rate board about how much more water rates will go up. In the last five years, PWD has raised rates by over 55%. The average Philadelphian will now pay $1,157.92 a year, $391 more, as a result of settlement agreements between the PWD and the “advocate” appointed by the rate board. PWD and the rate board’s advocate agree the rates should go up further, and their only disagreement is by how much.

The size of the rate increases, and the failure of the PWD and the rate board’s “advocate” to seek solutions beyond continual rate hikes, are issues the water department and the “advocate” are hiding from the public.

A lawyer, representing the Water Revenue Bureau, Renardo Hicks, did not want Hall Monitor viewers to see the hearing or collusion. He told Hall Monitor that it did not have his permission to use video from the hearing. The law is very clear: Public events can be recorded, and no permission is needed.

The rate board did hold public hearings. There was little to no outreach, and not a single water consumer testified in-person or “virtually.” The rate board’s “advocate,” paid to inform consumers, failed to list the hearings on its web page. It refused to list the groups it met with in person before deciding to support the increases. The advocate’s expert said it does not consider affordability or public comments before agreeing with the water department that rates should increase.

The Water Department did send out a notice, but it failed to mention that a rate increase was pending. The notice said: “You can be part of the conversation about how to keep water affordable for all customers in Philadelphia.” The PWD’s expert stated that it did not consider affordability either.

The rate board’s advocate’s web page makes no mention of the proposed rate increase or what consumers can do to stop the ever-increasing rates.

As to why the Water Department, the rate board, and the rate board’s “advocate” failed to conduct adequate outreach — there is only speculation as to why not. It may be that the PWD lawyers don’t want to call attention to the failure to explore options for continual rate hikes. Over the past 10 years, PWD has never hired an expert to identify cost savings. It has hired many experts to argue for rate increases.

The rate board may not want people to know the backgrounds of its five members: the former Water Commissioner, the former chief legal counsel for PGW, a real estate investor, an asset manager, and the former State Consumer Advocate who previously supported rate hikes.

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Craig Bolton is the Green Party Candidate for PA Lt. Governor

by
53sc
on April 15, 2026

Photo by Philadelphia photographer Sean Bolton

By Dastra 2026 Campaign Media Contact, Chris Robinson - 267-977-0570 | [email protected]

Photos by Philadelphia Photography, Sean Bolton - https://seanboltonphotography.com/

The Steering Committee of the Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA) has chosen Craig Bolton to be its candidate this year for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. Meeting virtually, the seven-member Steering Committee agreed by consensus to support Bolton, Chair of the Green Party of Philadelphia, to be on the ballot for the General Election on November 3.

GPPA Secretary Bryarr Misner (Allegheny) explained, “Over the past year, we have seen Craig Bolton in action, especially his dedication to the Green Party of Philadelphia. We like the ideas he has brought forward during the opening of Tony Dastra’s campaign for Governor of Pennsylvania. Personally, I have grown to respect Craig, and I fully support his run for Lieutenant Governor. I also hope that, throughout this campaign, Craig Bolton continues to champion the ideas and values that matter personally to him. This is a real opportunity for both Craig and Tony to get out there and make a difference in the hearts of Pennsylvanians. I am confident that they will.”

Tony Dastra, the Green Party candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania, said, “Craig Bolton brings to the table a great deal of talent and community concern for his home in Philadelphia. I’m looking forward to running alongside another creative person, and not some corporate type. I know what I like in a candidate -- passion and authenticity -- because I’m tired of the blah, blah, blah, from most of the candidates who run for office with either of the two corporate parties. Craig and I recognize the importance of running a campaign like this at such a critical moment for discourse in Pennsylvania, America, and even the world. Dastra-Bolton 2026! Liberty and Justice for ALL!”�

Craig Bolton responded by saying, “Thank you, Tony. As the chair of the Green Party of Philadelphia (GPOP), and as a community-building professional for nearly two decades, I have seen firsthand the power of organization and how direct interactions and holistic approaches can create real outcomes that strengthen the material conditions of working people. I have found the Green Party’s Four Pillars to be important in my life. In deciding to run for Lieutenant Governor, I am especially interested in Social Justice, the Pillar which calls for a living wage and a real safety net. I will work to raise awareness of the need for universal single-payer healthcare in our Commonwealth.”

Bolton continued, “Across the state, bad and worse have been normalized as the only options when deciding our leaders. Many voters have, collectively, accepted that there are no better options. I know that to be false, and I am excited to be running with Tony Dastra, combining our professional experiences and community service perspectives to create a state government which benefits all Pennsylvanians. I am running with Tony Dastra because he is the better option. We live in significant times and stand at a crossroads. We have an opportunity to forge our own, separate path, apart from the duopoly and on terms that we, the people, set for ourselves.”

Bolton was re-elected chair of the Green Party of Philadelphia on March 24, 2026. He also works with community service groups and lends his unique experience to panels and other discussions on public safety, community affairs, and grassroots political action. Bolton has a master of arts (M.A.) degree in strategic communication and a bachelor of arts (B.A.) in public relations from La Salle University. His professional career spans more than two decades in direct service and nonprofit community membership, arts, and fundraising. Bolton has always had a passion for film and media.

Every four years in Pennsylvania, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run on the same party line in the General Election, November 3. It comes as no surprise that Dastra’s running mate will come from Philadelphia, which has 1.4 million voters who are not registered with the two corporate parties and who are not permitted to participate in the corporate parties’ Primary Election.

DONATE to the Dastra Campaign

Tony Dastra Campaign Contact Information

Website, https://www.dastraforpa.org/
Email, [email protected]
Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/dastraforpa/
Facebook, www.facebook.com/DastraforPA

For More Information

“The Four Pillars,” Green Party of the United States,

https://www.gp.org/the_four_pillars

“Tony Dastra is the Green Party Candidate for PA Governor,” Green Party of Pennsylvania News Release, March 13, 2026,
https://www.gpofpa.org/tony_dastra_campaign_for_governor_of_pennsylvania

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Tony Dastra is the Green Party Candidate for PA Governor

by
53sc
on March 31, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 13, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT

Chris Robinson, 267-977-0570 and
[email protected]

Tony Dastra (Lancaster) is the Green Party Candidate for Pennsylvania Governor of Pennsylvania. On March 8, the 35 elected delegates to the GPPA State Committee endorsed Dastra’s campaign.

In requesting the endorsement, Tony Dastra told the delegates from 12 counties, “Today, with your support, I am planting myself. I am committing to be on this ride, to help get the blood flowing and to grow unorganized areas of our Commonwealth into organized ones. I will seed new Green Party organized counties by recruiting more delegates to fill our rolls.”

Dastra now says, “I am committed to growing my local Green Party of Lancaster County. I am committing to the Green Party’s Four Pillars and Ten Key Values. In fact, as it relates to our values, I am particularly upset recently because Scouting America is flat out REMOVING their Citizenship in Society Merit Badge. The more I think about my upbringing being an Eagle Scout, I had a lot of American history poured into me. The Green Party often reminds me of the newly formed Republican Party of 1858. Back then, abolitionists, like U.S. Representative Thaddeus Stevens (Republican of Lancaster County) who drafted the 14th Amendment, were called radical. I have hope in the Green Party in this moment of history for that reason. Though I do not have a crystal ball, I am putting all my chips on Green.”

Tony Dastra was the Green Party candidate for Mayor of Lancaster City in 2025. He is a vigorous campaigner and plans to visit the 10 largest cities in PA and a rural community in all 11 PennDOT Districts. Dastra says that his campaign will not accept donations from corporations or corporate PACs. Interested individuals should get involved with the Green Party of Pennsylvania and follow listed social media for campaign updates.

Tony Dastra Campaign Contact Information

Website, https://www.dastraforpa.org/

Email, [email protected]

Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/dastraforpa/

Facebook, www.facebook.com/DastraforPA

END OF ITEM

Originally posted posted by Dave Ochmanowicz March 15, 2026

https://www.gpofpa.org/tony_dastra_campaign_for_governor_of_pennsylvania

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Green Party Supports Divest Philadelphia from the War Machine

by
34sc
on October 31, 2021

The Green Party of Philadelphia City Committee (GPOP, www.gpop.org) continued its support for Divest Philly from the War Machine by calling on people to join a campaign to divest the Philadelphia Board of Pensions from the nuclear weapon industry.

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Reflections on George Floyd Anniversary

by
7sc
on May 25, 2021

By Justin Bell, member of the Green Party of Philadelphia City Committee

I was sitting in traffic today on Roosevelt boulevard when the verdict came in: Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd. When I heard it I had trouble processing it. It wasn’t until my wife called me crying because she couldn’t believe it was real, that I started to believe it was real. After I got off I looked around to see if any other cars were listening or having reactions. I was disappointed that everyone looked miserable and wasn’t honking. For a moment I felt victorious. Overwhelmed by the power of the people who refused to get out of the way when the police told them to move. I saw two older ladies flanked by the National Guard during the height of COVID. One pushing the other in a wheelchair. They had put themselves in a situation of great risk and they had won.

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Green Party Stands with #BAmazon Workers

by
34sc
on March 20, 2021

[These remarks were given on March 20, 2021, by Hillary Kane, Green Party of Philadelphia Treasurer, at a rally in support of Amazon workers trying to unionize in Bessemer, AL. Pictured above are rally organizer and Green Party member Asantewaa Nkrumah-Ture (left) and Green Party members Charles Sherrouse and Hillary Kane holding the GPOP banner at the rally (right).]

Thank you to the organizers of today’s march and rally for allowing me to speak. I represent the Green Party, an independent political party. The Green Party often co-sponsors rallies such as these, joining in the fight for better working conditions, but we rarely get invited to share the podium because of deep seated fears of independent politics. Politics that doesn’t go along with the status quo - the two-party system, or in this city, let’s be real -- a one-party system.

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PA Green Party calls for Eco-Socialism on 51st Earth Day

by
34sc
on March 20, 2021

Beginning in 1970, the early years of Earth Day were political. Participants made spider webs from yarn to revere the world’s interconnectedness. After a few years, Earth Day became less about politics and more about activities such as cleaning up litter. We also stopped thinking like an ecosystem.

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Letter to Family of Ant Smith

by
34sc
on November 10, 2020

Sunday, November 1, 2020

To Anthony “Ant” Smith and family and the members of the Philly REAL Justice Coalition,

We the Green Party of Philadelphia wish to express our support and warmest solidarity with all of you at this time.

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Statement concerning the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr.

by
34sc
on November 03, 2020

We, the Green Party of Philadelphia (GPOP), wish to express our deepest, warmest condolences to the family and friends of Walter Wallace Jr., another young Black man mercilessly gunned down by officers of the Philadelphia Police Department (PD).

We condemn in the strongest possible terms the Philadelphia PD’s over reliance on lethal force, and we unapologetically support the constitutionally protected right of protesters to rise up against yet another police murder. Despite the fervent efforts of Walter Wallace Jr.’s mother to calm her son, the whole world witnessed how Wallace Jr. was shot and killed in front of his mother, as she begged them not to shoot.

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Green Party Joins Call to Defund Police

by
34sc
on June 17, 2020

GREEN PARTY OF PHILADELPHIA ENDORSES AND PARTICIPATES IN SATURDAY PROTEST

The Green Party of Philadelphia co-sponsored and also participated in the Defund the Police rally on June 13th. Led by the Philadelphia chapter of Socialist Alternative, the rally and march began at Broad and Callowhill at the site of old Philadelphia Inquirer building, currently undergoing a $300 million renovation to become the new police headquarters.

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