For weeks now, members of the No Arena in Chinatown Coalition have visited council members’ offices almost daily, urging them to consider various aspects of the proposal and expressing concerns that they were being rushed into making a decision without having examined all the information.

This tactic seems to have paid off in that most of the council members subsequently asked detailed and probing questions in the session. For over four hours, lawmakers questioned Parker administration officials about the agreement reached with the team, transportation to the arena and alleged community benefits.

High on their list was the arena’s potential impact on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) which already claims to be cash-strapped. In current negotiations with Philadelphia union members seeking wage and benefit increases, SEPTA already says it would have to raise fares by over 20% and make severe service cuts.

The arena proposal includes plans for SEPTA to build a new facility above the Jefferson Station in Center City. Council member Cindy Bass voiced the growing concern that “SEPTA is saying they’re not paying for these costs. They’re not gonna do it. So the question is, ‘Who’s gonna do it?’”