Mayor Cherelle Parker says she is not discouraged as Philadelphia City Council hearings have gone underway on the Sixers' plan to build an arena in Center City.

How can Philadelphians trust that a new 76ers arena won’t require taxpayer dollars? Why won’t the team offer more than $50 million to help mitigate the arena’s impacts? Why won’t the Sixers’ billionaire owners testify in City Council?

Tuesday was a step in making the proposed Sixers arena a reality as City Council held its first public hearing.