that you're not comfortable with having to make but necessary because of the recession? >> well, not any city in america that's not dealing with the current economic climate. we're fortunate in houston that i've been able to balance the budget without having to furlough or layoff employees but cities are service organizations, the bulk of our expenditures are personnel and overhead. 75% of what we spend in houston goes to our employees and they provide essential services, so if cut spending in a city, you cut people. and that in turn affects the local economy and there is a feedback loop you don't want to get into. >> mayor nutter, a feedback loop, you don't have any control over in some cases, this is sort of handed to you guys. here you are on the ground as a mayor of big american city and recession limits your choices. you have bad choices that you have to make. how do you make those? >> well, they're all bad choices, christine.