Councilmembers of the Working Families Party were the first to oppose a Market East arena, making the case that the plan was not popular or promising enough to back.
Minority Leader Kendra Brooks (At-Large) and Minority Whip Nicolas O’Rourke issued the following statement in response to news that the Philadelphia 76ers will develop a new arena in South Philadelphia:
“We knew this deal was bad from the beginning. Anybody following this issue closely could clearly see this was a power struggle between billionaires and corporations. Their plans can change on a whim, and these latest developments are a clear example of why the Mayor and City Council should never waste precious time and resources prioritizing billionaire projects over the work Philadelphians elect us to do. And who knows how much time we’ll have to waste now undoing what Council just did?
Over the last two years, the Minority Party in Council stood firmly with the community to oppose this plan because it never made sense for Philadelphia. Community members and organizations raised critical questions about the arena that went unanswered and are now fully vindicated for doubting the 76ers’ commitment to cherished neighborhoods. This outcome would not have been possible without the courage and dedication of community leaders, organizers, and Philadelphians who spoke up and fought back. Your voices made all the difference.
Furthermore, the Sixers staying in South Philadelphia has always made the most sense. Let’s see the details, but this is a historic win and testament to the power of organizing — it helps to trust and believe in that power.”
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Source: phlcouncil.com…