From left: Chicago Chief Financial Officer Jennie Huang Bennett, Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) and Deputy Mayor Samir Mayekar speak during a City Council committee meeting on Monday [City Clerk’s Office]

A phalanx of city officials and executives from the Bally’s Corporation spent nearly six hours on Monday fending off questions and challenges to their $1.7 billion plan to build a city-backed casino in River West, arguing the City Council should act fast to put the plan into motion so the city can maximize its tools to close yet another formidable budget gap on the horizon.