According to CBS News, Philadelphia City Council member Mark Squilla said “a decision would likely come in the fall.”
Protesters from the members of the Save Chinatown Coalition chanting, “Power to the people!” went to the Philadelphia City Hall on September 5 when the council opened their session, according to Fox 29.
Jenny Zhang of the Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance was quoted asking, “Who do you work for, the people of this city, or do you work for the billionaires who own the Sixers?”
On June 10, a massive protest in Philadelphia’s Chinatown demonstrated their opposition to the proposed new Sixers arena.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
A community report from Mayor Parker’s office released on August 27 found that the proposed arena would not “lead to direct housing displacement,” but it could indirectly displace people by accelerating “gentrification and loss of cultural identity in Chinatown,” which is just north of the potential location, according to CBS News.
Philadelphia’s Local Officials Want to Keep Sixers
A day before the September 5 protest, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker indicated that her office intends to keep the Sixers team in the city.
“I am Philly born and Philly bred. The place for all Philadelphia teams is right here in Philadelphia and that’s a priority for me,” Parker told Fox 29.
Kenyetta Johnson, the City Council President, also shared the same sentiment.
“Moving out of the City of Philadelphia, for me, is not an option,” Johnson told Fox 29. “I do believe those who are trying to go after the Sixers, from my perspective, we have to take very seriously.”
According to CBS News, Philadelphia City Council member Mark Squilla said “a decision would likely come in the fall.”
Protesters from the members of the Save Chinatown Coalition chanting, “Power to the people!” went to the Philadelphia City Hall on September 5 when the council opened their session, according to Fox 29.
Jenny Zhang of the Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance was quoted asking, “Who do you work for, the people of this city, or do you work for the billionaires who own the Sixers?”
On June 10, a massive protest in Philadelphia’s Chinatown demonstrated their opposition to the proposed new Sixers arena.
A community report from Mayor Parker’s office released on August 27 found that the proposed arena would not “lead to direct housing displacement,” but it could indirectly displace people by accelerating “gentrification and loss of cultural identity in Chinatown,” which is just north of the potential location,
according to CBS News.
Philadelphia’s Local Officials Want to Keep Sixers
A day before the September 5 protest, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker indicated that her office intends to keep the Sixers team in the city.
“I am Philly born and Philly bred. The place for all Philadelphia teams is right here in Philadelphia and that’s a priority for me,” Parker told Fox 29.
Kenyetta Johnson, the City Council President, also shared the same sentiment.
Moving out of the City of Philadelphia, for me, is not an option,” Johnson told Fox 29. “I do believe those who are trying to go after the Sixers, from my perspective, we have to take very seriously.”
Alder Almo is a basketball journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 15 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey.
More about Alder Almo
