The worst thing in the world when you are trying to negotiate any kind of deal with another party, is when that other party knows full well that you have zero alternatives other than to take the deal they are offering.
Arte needs to negotiate with Anaheim. He needs Anaheim to know that he has other options. Anaheim knows that Tustin is not another option. Anaheim knows that Irvine is not another option. Anaheim knows that downtown LA, the Inland Empire, Las Vegas, or even Portland are not serious options. He has waited out the city government that was stuffing him into a corner.