CENTRAL CITY – Hearings on the Sixers’ plan to build an arena in the Market East neighborhood began Tuesday morning in the Philadelphia City Council, with opponents challenging the Parker Administration’s support for the plan.

The hearing began with a reading of the names of the jumble of bills that, if approved, would mean an 18,500-seat arena would rise on Market Street, bordering Chinatown. Mayor Parker wants this; The Chief of General Staff made the case. “The Arena will pave the way for long-needed redevelopment in the Eastern Market to attract investment, create jobs and generate new tax revenue,” said Tiffany Thurman.

The city argues this would bring $700 million in new tax dollars to Philly and $350 million to the Commonwealth. They claim 1,000 construction and operations jobs will be created.

The questions had barely begun when one member demanded that the team return with tax revenue from Camden. “If we agree to give them an arena, I think part of the deal is that the company should be headquartered in the City of Philadelphia,” said Isiah Thomas, a Democrat on the city council. he said.

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The Sixers say they will raise money to build the $1.3 billion arena, pouring $50 million into a special fund to ease the burden on Chinatown and cover the cost of changes to SEPTA’s Jefferson Station. SEPTA will have to operate more regional rail trains on game days at a time when the Authority claims it is short on funds. “If SEPTA’s financial stability is not explicitly addressed in the legislation, we should not vote for the arena,” Council member Jamie Gauthier said.

Workers supporting the deal and the agreement looked from the balcony at opponents sitting on the ground just behind a “public hearing” held outside. Insiders say the votes are there for approval, but for now the no votes are the loudest. Nicholas O’Rourke is from the Working Families Party. “We’re prioritizing billionaires’ pet projects. They’re getting plenty of money over the financial needs of Philadelphians.” he said.