As expected, the introduction of the legislation regarding 76 Place to City Council isn't going off without interruption.
Marco Cerino is the City Hall reporter for The Philadelphia Tribune, and is reporting live from what's turned into a chaotic morning because the wheels seem to be in motion on introducing the legislation regarding the Sixers arena proposal in Center City:
Good morning from a SRO City Hall. Today, it begins. @marksquilla will introduce 12 bills and ordinances to start the #76Place legislative process. sources say he's adding a special services district to @PhillyMayor package. @PHLCouncil will gavel in at 10.
We've already had 4 interruptions of the Clerk's reading of messages/transmissions from the Mayor's office and a rebuke from @CouncilmemberKJ. Booing also can be heard from the caucus room across the hallway. Audience feels around 75% anti-arena.
Arena forces try to out shout each other. Chambers have decided into chaos. Council President has let things subside: "Let's finish the business of the people" he implores. pic.twitter.com/zZnFuqojXn
While Mayor Cherelle Parker endorsed the 76 Place plan last month, it's still awaiting the rubber stamp approval of the 17-person City Council. Ultimately, at least nine members of the City Council will have to vote in favor of the legislation for it to pass.
As your Mayor, I'm speaking from my City Hall office with a very important announcement. I am proud to share that I have made my decision, and an agreement has been reached to ensure that our Sixers are staying home.
I wholeheartedly believe this is the right deal for the People… pic.twitter.com/Fnj19mrBOV
Tweaks continue to be made to the legislation before it's formally put up for a vote. Earlier this week, Paul Schwedelson of The Philadelphia Business Journal reported the a 25-story apartment tower that had been part of prior iterations of the plan for an arena in Center City has been scrapped. This, per Schwedelson's reporting, came at the behest of Councilman Mark Squilla. Squilla represents District 1, and is the councilperson ultimately introducing the legislation.
