Well, as mentioned I have quite an extensive local bus service system in Vasa and that seems to help A LOT. Tearing down a couple of blocks and my rating goes down - but it only takes a small moment and things have changed and I'm able to tear down yet a number of blocks again. So no, I don't have a problem with the city council declining my request to pull in bulldozers!
Of course, at some occasions I'll bribe them if I urgently needs to get rid of a number of buildings in a haste, but usually it all works out the normal way of doing things!
///Edit to add;
A small update for comparison;
Some time earlier downtown Vasa;
...and some time later, downtown Vasa;
Next to work on is to move the waterfront closer to the west side of downtown, something which means that a lot of the buildings "climbing uphills" will have to meet the bulldozer! Update to come!