"They were," he paused, shaking his head. His heart skipped a beat. The weight of guilt settling in. He'd tried to keep them together, tried to put away the assholes and psychopaths who killed like it was candy to eat.

He hadn't done enough. He couldn't. Not from City Hall. Not from anywhere.

"There were also imports who invented, didn't Mayor..." he trailed off, as if he were thinking. Pondering, trying to remember a name that was in the records only now. "Hundred, wasn't it? Didn't he get an entire backup power system on the City? You can't deny that a lot of 'em did some good, can you?" he questioned the Piper, driving forward.

Take control of the situation. Control the narrative. It was standard debate technique, one he'd gotten at least a little better at.