WEBVTT TYLER: APPEARANCE OF THE MERGERARE CALLING THIS A STATEMENTWINDS.BOTH RESIDENTS IN BOTH CITIESVOTED IT DOWN.TURNOUT WAS AVERAGE TO ABOVEAVERAGE IN MANY WARDS LIKELY DUETO THIS QUESTION.IT HAS BEEN A MAJOR CONVERSATIONON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER.PEOPLE WERE FAIRLY CONFIDENT OFVICTORY.MANY PEOPLE FLAT-OUT REJECTEDIDEA FROM THE START.IN THE END, WE HAVE THEPEOPLE.AND THE PEOPLE DID NOT SUBSCRIBETO THIS.THEY NEVER HAVE.THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEENDISCUSSED FOR OVER A CENTURYSINCE WAY BACK IN THE LATE1800S.IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SHOT DOWN.WHY THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE ANYDIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND, INEVER UNDERSTOOD.>> AT THE VERY LEAST, WE GOTPEOPLE'S ATTENTION.OH MY GOODNESS.EVERYONE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUTTHIS EVERY DAY, EVERYWHERE.SO AT LEAST WE HAVE MADE THISINTO SOMETHING IMPORTANT FOR THECOMMUNITY.ONE PERSON WE SPOKE WITH TOLDUS THIS IS BEEN A DIVISIVE ISSUEANOTHER IS HEALING TO DO.MEMBER OPPOSED TO THE MERGERARE CELEBRATING, AND THE PEOPLEWHO ARE FOR THE MERGER AREALREADY HEADING HOME.