Angry taxpayers, longtime season ticket holders and citizens who thought their politicians were visionary or "dumb as a rock" crammed the Charlotte City Council meeting Monday night.

In a two-hour public hearing, some urged approving the next step in arena negotiations for the Hornets, hoping to spur economic development.

"We're here for big-city life with a small-town feel," said Alice Carpenter, slapping high-fives while returning to her seat.

Others ripped the council, promising to vote them out of office for ignoring last year's referendum that rejected financing an arena and other uptown projects.

"I am one of the voters you have chosen to ignore, and I shall not forget the impertinence," said J.R. Bondurant, finishing to applause and shouts of "Hear, hear!"

After more than three hours, the council voted 8-3 in favor of an arena-building plan. Of the fewer than 100 spectators who remained, some offered a standing ovation before shaking hands and scurrying out.

When the meeting started at 7 p.m., the crowd had filled all 247 seats, and dozens more stood in back or were forced to an overflow room upstairs. Many brought signs, ranging from "Vote yes for progress," to one that suggested the council's Web site should be "liars.com."

Some supporters work in the sagging hotel industry and said they need an uptown arena to boost their paychecks.

Sue Cardillo, 64, was among the opposition, saying she lost her job with a computer company last month and couldn't afford a tax hike.

Of the 50 speakers who got two minutes at the microphone, supporters outnumbered opponents more than 2-1. But critics cheered louder, clapping just for the entrance of their biggest council ally, Don Lochman.Marvin Clifford, 79, clutched a November article about the council's unanimous opposition to spending tax dollars to keep the Hornets. Though council members didn't react to comments from several speakers about that reversal, the board looked stricken after Hoyle Martin, a former county commissioner and City Council member, said he was ashamed.

Martin said he wouldn't vote for any of them as dogcatcher. "I don't want to say `God bless you' because I won't mean it," he said.

"God bless you, Hoyle," replied Mayor Pat McCrory.

Before the hearing, Democrats and Republicans in the crowd who normally disagree were united in opposition to what spectator Chris Jolley described as a "financial boondoggle."

Others, from Charlotte newcomers such as Dewayne Giggendanner, 29, to longtimers such as O'Dell Robinson, 76, said the city must pay for improved quality of life.

One arena advocate said he failed to vote in the June referendum, not realizing how seriously the Hornets were trying to move. But he endorsed the current proposal because it uses more money from the business community. "It's a different story now under different terms," said Brian Nichols, 23. "The plan is so much better."

A few minutes later, Jim Cherry, 61, told council members they had sold their souls.

"In handling tax dollars, you've been dumb as a rock," he said.