Chinatown organizers celebrate new South Philly arena plan, slam city politicians for process

The Save Chinatown Coalition stressed that they are willing to work with Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, City Council, and the Sixers organization on a revamped community benefits agreement at a news conference Monday — even if there’s some lingering frustration after the 76ers abandoned their plans for a new arena in Center City. “It was a heartbreaking process,” Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance executive director Mohan Seshadri told reporters, recalling instances of anti-arena demonstrators getting handcuffed on the floor of City Council. Many are relieved by the change in plans, but even still, some within the community were disheartened by the process to get here.