For months, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker has been hedging on her position on a new 76ers arena next door to her city’s Chinatown, most recently saying that keeping the team in town was “a priority,” but that “we have a process here in the city of Philadelphia that we are following, and we will allow it to play itself out.” Yesterday, that all changed, as Parker released a weirdly framed video declaring that “an agreement has been reached that will ensure that our Sixers are staying home”:
“I will be transmitting the related legislative package to our city council of Philadelphia for its consideration, where it must be approved. … This is an historic agreement. It is the best financial deal ever entered into by a Philadelphia mayor for a sports arena, and I wholeheartedly believe it is the right deal for the people of Philadelphia.”
Then Parker said she would have “a lot more to say in a forthcoming formal presentation,” and would hold town halls so that “the people have access to the facts.” Then she claimed the arena would create “hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenues” and “hundreds and hundreds of jobs,” and wrapped up without including any details of what is in this agreement or showing any of her math. (A previous report by the Sixers’ hired consultants projected $16.2 million a year in tax revenue for the city and school district, and was immediately jumped on by people with actual economics degrees as a load of hooey.)
What prompted Parker’s abrupt transformation into a 76ers arena stan is unclear, but public response was — unsurprisingly in a city where people oppose the plan by a more than 3-to-1 margin — overwhelmingly negative. Debbie Wei of the Save Chinatown Coalition wrote in a statement: “This fight is far from over. We are going to fight this, and we are going to the mat. It’s on.” And the reply thread to Parker’s video on Twitter was just brutal:
She said, “People of Chinatown, I hear you” while she was having secret, closed door meetings without them. — Andrew Lee
The same beer people will buy on Market St, they would have bought at Wells Fargo/Xfinity Live. She just became a multi millionaire with the kickbacks she’ll get from the unions. She’s a termite — Shaun
You’ll never be reelected again. Ruining Chinatown and separating the one of the sports teams all at once. Only doing this to get your pockets lined. Disgusting — Philly Sports Truther
Are you drunk? It would make sense because it would explain why you entered this ridiculous agreement. One term, Parker. — The Centryst
Why does this have the feel of a parody skit on SNL? — Brian Thuer
Actually fuck you for this. — PKSparkxx || #BlackLivesMatter
The last remaining obstacle to the arena going forward, it would appear, is now local councilmember Mark Squilla, who has been similarly wishy-washy to Mayor Parker up until now, saying first that he wouldn’t do anything that the neighborhood opposed but then pivoting to saying he’s “comfortable making that decision” on his own. Following Parker’s video statement, Squilla said only, “It’s up to us to look at that legislation and see if the proper safeguards are put in place, and if not, add those safeguards in place before an introduction can happen,” which translates as “yes, we are the city council, we consider legislation, that’s our job description.”
Next step is to see what new details, if any, Parker reveals in her formal presentation, but the battle lines seem pretty set regardless. It is, most definitely, on.
UPDATE: Wei emails that Parker held an invite-only meeting of selected Chinatown leaders yesterday afternoon, then “WHILE PEOPLE WERE STILL IN THE MEETING her folks posted that ridiculous video.” Classy.
“… for its consideration, where it must be approved.”
Interesting phrasing. Sounds like mayor would rather submit it to the Politburo.
Only one of those people whose tweets you’re quoting other than Chinatown natives are actually from Philly. The others are gentrifiers and other transplants who do not at all care about Chinatown.
These people do not speak for the whole city.