Philadelphia City Council approved the construction of a new arena for the Philadelphia 76ers despite strong opposition from residents and activists. Demonstrators disrupted the meeting, leading to arrests.
Before Thursday’s session began, anti-arena demonstrators locked arms on the Council floor and temporarily prevented Council President Kenyatta Johnson from gaveling in the start of the meeting. An area supporter is chambers Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024 as opponents are on the floor as City Council is scheduled to give final approval to the Sixers arena during its regular meeting., a $1.
3 billion project touted as an opportunity to revitalize the Market East corridor and panned as an existential threat to nearby The 76ers said they needed city approval for the arena by the end of the year in order to open it in time for the 2031-32 NBA season, when the team’s lease at the Wells Fargo Center expires. Council’s final vote came aCity Council members approved the 76ers Center City arena proposal in a preliminary votepersonally appeared in Council chambers as officers and deputies handcuffed the demonstrators one by one and walked them out of City Hall. Councilmember Jeffery “Jay” Young Jr., who opposes the arena, wept as protesters were detained in front of him. Arena opponents who had packed the galleries continued chanting, “Council sell-out.” Eventually, Johnson established order and started the meeting. Lawmakers raced through their regular agenda before public comment, when numerous people spoke for and against the arena with arguments now familiar to lawmakers after eight public hearings and scores of hours of testimony.. The 11 pieces of legislation include measures that make zoning changes, authorize land transfers, and create a new special services district to provide public cleaning, public safety and other services near the arena.One bill, creating a new Chinatown zoning overlay, was approved in a 14-3 vote, with Landau and Gauthier saying they were voting in favor of the measure despite opposing the arena because it would help protect Chinatow
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