The city didn't feel it was appropriate to broadcast the hearings. They felt it could create a circus atmosphere. We were hoping everybody would get to watch it - that's the best way for people to know what happens in these hearings and make a decision based on that. It's the best thing for the citizens, especially if the council's going to lean toward pushing this toward a ballot measure.

It's more of a policy decision to not grant us the benefits and the wages than an inability to pay. They're not denying their ability to pay.

We've got a very precise idea of how far we can go and what we can budge on.