Mayor Parker and Chinatown Coalition discuss arena [Video]

PHILADELPHIA – Business and community leaders from Chinatown gathered on the second floor of City Hall Monday for a meeting with Mayor Cherelle Parker to discuss the proposed new Sixers arena.

Community members, many opposed to the 76ers’ proposed 18,000-seat arena in the Market East community, say they were called to the meeting by the mayor’s team just last Thursday evening for a listening session.

They came armed with a letter listing their concerns and the results of an online survey showing overwhelming opposition to the plan.

The members of the community heard from Mayor Cherelle Parker who said she had not made up her mind.

However, some in the meeting had.

“Because of the negative impacts of the arena, including traffic as the largest one, we don’t know – nobody knows – if the benefits outweigh the negative impact,” said John Chin of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation.

The meeting comes as the City of …