Hearings to Take Place November 12-13, 19-21, 26 and December 2-3, Council Created Arena Site phlcouncil.com/arena-info/ for Up-to-Date Information on Legislative Process
PHILADELPHIA, PA (November 7, 2024) – Keeping his public commitment to have robust public hearings on a potential 76 Place (Sixers) arena in Center City, Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson (Second District) today announced that Council’s Committee of the Whole will host eight days of hearings throughout the month of November and into early December.
Council has also created a website to give Philadelphians up-to-date information on Sixers arena deliberations: https://phlcouncil.com/arena-info/
“Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Administration made the proposed Sixers arena legislation available to the public back in late September,” Council President Johnson said. “Councilmember Mark Squilla, whose Council district the proposed arena would be located, introduced the 13 pieces of legislation on October 24. Councilmember Squilla has been working very hard over the past two years in addressing the concerns of his constituents.”
“Now that the legislation has been introduced, Council and every Council member is now going through our legislative process and I expect spirted Committee of the Whole hearings on this proposed arena,” Johnson continued. “Councilmembers will have the opportunity to ask questions of officials from the Sixers, the Mayor Parker Administration, and others about the proposed arena project. Council’s leadership team and Squilla made sure that we added time in our Council calendar this year to provide a significant number of opportunities for individuals who are pro or con on this project to speak and address their concerns.”
“I introduced the legislative package for the arena after 30days of review and stakeholder input,” Squilla said. “In partnership with Mayor Parker and Council President Johnson, we incorporated a funded arena district and a transit oversight plan in the Community Benefits Agreement. I added legislation for a Chinatown zoning overlay that is intended to include affordable housing, protect small businesses and implement use controls.”
“Forthcoming will be legislation for a cultural tax increment financing (TIF) intended to help preserve, support, maintain and improve the legacy and value of Chinatown to the City of Philadelphia,” Squilla continued. “The TIF will capture increases in tax revenues to reinvest in the Chinatown community. We will now begin the legislative process of public hearings in City Council during which we will deliberate the bills and testimony from all interested parties.”
DATES OF COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON PROPOSED 76 PLACE LEGISLATION
The Committee of the Whole is made up of all 17 members of Council and is chaired by President Johnson. All hearings will be held in person at Philadelphia City Council Chambers, Room 400 (Fourth Floor), City Hall.
The first Committee hearing will take place on Tuesday, November 12 starting at 10 a.m., and is expected to go until 4:30 p.m. The first set of testimonies will feature officials from Mayor Parker’s administration to whom Councilmembers will ask questions.
The second day of hearings will be held on Wednesday, November 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will feature officials from the Philadelphia Sixers testifying why they want a new stadium in Center City. Councilmembers will be able to ask questions of the witnesses.
The remainder of the hearings will go as follows (subject to change):
While all the hearings are open to the public, testimony from the public is reserved for portions of the hearings on November 19, 20, and 26 and the entirety of the hearings on November 21 and December 2.
Councilmember Mark Squilla (First District) introduced 13 pieces of legislation on October 24 to start the process. The legislation are Bills #240963, #240964, #240965, #240966, #240967, #240968, #240969, #240970, #240971, #240972, #240973 and Resolutions #240999 and #241000. To review arena legislation, click here.
Council approved Resolutions #240999 and #241000 by a roll call vote at the October 31 City Council session. Passage of Resolutions #240999 and #241000 was a procedural step and neither approves any substantive legislation related to the arena nor limit Council’s ability to fully vet and scrutinize the arena proposal.
It is the bills/ordinances that enact the changes required for the arena project, not the resolutions.
HOW DO I SIGN UP TO GIVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON NOVEMBER 19-21, 26 AND DECEMBER 2
Speakers interested in providing testimony at the Sixers Arena Committee of the Whole hearings on November 19, 20, 21, 26 and December 2 can call the Chief Clerk’s Office at 215-686-3407 or via email at [email protected] by 3 p.m. the day before they want to testify and submit the following information:
- Full name
- Telephone Number
- Identify the bill number or resolution number or numbers that will be addressed,
- Specify which date you want to testify.
Speakers who submitted the above information will be placed on a list to testify at the specific hearing they have selected. Anyone can also come to the November 19, 20,21, 26 and December 2public comment sessions inside Room 400 (fourth floor) of City Hall and signup to testify at that day’s hearing.
If a speaker attending one of the Committee of the Whole hearings has written comments they would like to be added to the official transcript of Council, please provide one (1) copy to the Sergeant of Arms before you speak, and your written remarks will be given to the stenographer for inclusion in the record.
If anyone needs translation services during the Sixers Arena hearings, contact the Chief Clerk’s Office at 215-686-3407 or [email protected].
HOW CAN THE PUBLIC WATCH THE SIXERS ARENA HEARINGS?
The public can watch all Committee hearings live by watching Xfinity Channel 64 and Fios Channel 40 if you have cable TV in Philadelphia, or stream online at www.PHLCouncil.com/watch.
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Council President Kenyatta Johnson, a former Pennsylvania State Representative, represents the Second Council District which includes parts of Center City, South Philadelphia, and Southwest Philadelphia.
Philadelphia City Council is the legislative arm of Philadelphia municipal government. Keep up with Council on phlcouncil.com, and on X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
