SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle's mayor and an investor have condemned sports fans' sexist attacks against the mostly female City Council after its vote sidetracked a proposed arena project aimed at luring back the NBA.

All five women on the nine-member council voted against selling a street to investor Chris Hansen, complicating his plan to build an arena in a Seattle neighborhood to house a professional basketball or hockey team. The four men backed the proposal.

Many attacked the councilwomen on social media and through emails, leading Hansen and Mayor Ed Murray to speak out this week.

Hansen says the "misogynistic insults, vile comments and threats" to the councilwomen must stop.

Hansen wants to bring the NBA back to Seattle after the SuperSonics left for Oklahoma City following the 2007-08 season and was renamed the Thunder.

 

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