COUNCILMEMBER JAMIE GAUTHIER ISSUES STATEMENT AS COUNCIL CONCLUDES FIRST HEARING ON 76ERS ARENA

PHILADELPHIA - As City Council concludes its first of several hearings on the proposed 76ers arena, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) issued the following statement. Councilmember Gauthier will decide whether to support or oppose the arena after the hearings conclude.

"City Council has an obligation to ask tough questions, advocate for necessary changes, and take the time we need to make sure the arena - if it moves forward - does more good than harm.

"I cannot deny that my working-class, Black and brown constituents would benefit immensely from family-sustaining jobs and lucrative contracting opportunities created by 76 Place, provided we have a stronger and enforceable Equal Opportunity Plan.

"But I also represent a large constituency that rightly sees Chinatown, the Gayborhood, and Washington Square West as irreplaceable havens for vulnerable communities in Philadelphia - including my constituents.

"If we allow this arena to move forward without doing much, much more to protect impacted communities, I worry we will be on the wrong side of history.

"Given SEPTA's impending "death spiral", the 76ers should cover any additional costs the transit authority incurs due to the construction and operation of the arena. We need a more detailed Equal Opportunity Plan with stronger remedies for noncompliance. And impacted communities like Chinatown deserve a genuine community benefits agreement with a robust anti-displacement plan.

"These issues should be addressed before Council votes on the arena proposal."

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