PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pro-arena union members and anti-arena activists made their way into Philadelphia City Council chambers Thursday morning, where legislation on the 76ers arena proposal was introduced. The council session got heated and at least one activist was taken out.
Supporters and opponents of the arena rallied outside City Hall before heading into the meeting.
The No Arena in the Heart of the City Coalition — a collection of groups strongly against the proposal — wants to protect Chinatown and other communities from development. Cinthya Hioe with Asian Americans United said Chinatown is being pushed around again.
“Chinatown has been so rooted in this space but also this community has had to fight so many developers, so many things,” she said. “We fought off a stadium before” — a pitch by the Phillies decades ago.
Meanwhile, union workers support the project, saying it will bring about thousands of jobs.
“When you construct a building, 13% of the cost of the building is constructing it,” said TJ Lepera with IBEW Local 98. “The other 87% cost of the building is maintaining it. Not only do we construct buildings in the city but we maintain ’em."
“The members of Local 98 and the building trades, we built this city. We want to continue to build this city. We want to build an arena that’s gonna revitalize Market Street all the way to the river.”
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During the meeting, a pair of officers held Debbie Wei, with the Save Chinatown Coalition, by the arms as they escorted her out of council chambers.
She said she didn’t think she was doing anything that stood out more than others.
“Everybody was chanting. Everybody was on their feet,” she said.
Others chanted “let her go” — officers eventually did let her go, without being arrested.
Wei said coalition members are frustrated and angry that their concerns are being ignored again and again.
“Whether or not you want this arena or don’t want this arena, this kind of fast-tracking to benefit billionaires on the backs of the people of the city of Philadelphia is unconscionable,” she said.
Mayor Cherelle Parker has also voiced support for the arena. Activists promised to continue their fight for as long as necessary.
The council session ended just after 2 p.m.