The fight over the media's access to public officials is erupting at City Hall. 

On Monday, the City Council began a new policy of restricting reporters from parts of City Hall they previously had access to. Tuesday, those restrictions were scaled back, although the biggest barriers to reporters still remain in place. 

The City Council's wing will now be largely off-limits to journalists, but a spokeswoman for the council speaker says the press can use the stairwells in the East Wing, where the speaker's office is located. 

Monday, the same spokeswoman told reporters to "take the elevator" when they noted that they had lost access to the stairs. 

City Council officials suggested the changes were made because of sensitive negotiations underway in the East Wing.