Mayor McGinn listens to Councilmember Mike O'Brien during a deep bore tunnel Town Hall meeting last Dec. 1. O'Brien just released a statement in support of those who signed signatures to put the deep bore tunnel project up for a vote even though City Attorney Pete Holmes is suing those who gathered the votes.
While Gov. Gregoire takes City Attorney Pete Holmes' side, saying that Washington is planning to join efforts to block the city of Seattle from holding a referendum on replacing the elevated Alaskan Way Viaduct with a tunnel, the mayor and council member Mike O'Brien have a different take:
Mayor's Press Release:
Mayor’s statement
“State law says Seattle will pay for all cost overruns on the deep-bored tunnel. Before putting the public on the hook for cost overruns, we should first ask their permission. That’s why I support a public vote.”
Press Release, City Councilmember Mike O'Brien's office:
Today Councilmember Mike O'Brien released the following statement in response to City Attorney Pete Holmes's lawsuit that could deny the people of Seattle the right to vote on the deep bored tunnel project:
"This morning leaders from Washington State, King County, the Port of Seattle, and the City of Seattle told the public they want to move forward with the deep bored tunnel project, but they still plan to make Seattle pay for cost overruns. Meanwhile, only 35 percent of Seattle voters even want the deep bore tunnel.
"While elected officials gather today to insist on their right to make decisions for the public, I am standing with the 29,000 residents who signed a petition asking for a chance to speak for themselves with a vote on this project."
Background:
On Tuesday, more than 29,000 signatures were submitted to the City Clerk to refer City Council Ordinance 123542 to the August primary ballot. King County Elections is in the process of validating the signatures and 16,500 valid signatures are required to refer the measure to the ballot.
