I keep going back over what is really going on her

I keep going back over what is really going on here. None of this makes sense. Why would would the mayor do an about face? What is in it for him? Why would a few local goofs have that much to say? I am missing something here, and I just can't seem to find the answer. Is it about scamming more tax money? Extortion? Local greed? There is a missing piece to this puzzle