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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Tunnel Opponent Sues City

News   November 12, 2009 at 12:46 pm Erica C. Barnett

Anti-tunnel crusader and onetime mayoral candidate Elizabeth Campbell has filed a lawsuit against the city seeking to overturn the city’s controversial Memorandum of Agreement with the state, which expressed the city’s support for the downtown deep-bore tunnel. (Opponents of the MOA, including Mayor-Elect Mike McGinn and City Council Member-elect Mike O’Brien, have accused the council of rushing into the tunnel decision before they know how much it will actually cost).

Campbell’s group, Seattle Citizens Against the Tunnel, has already filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing that the state illegally moved forward with the tunnel before doing the required environmental reviews. This suit, filed by Campbell herself, accuses the city (among other things) of failing to consider the environmental impacts of tearing down the Alaskan Way Viaduct and of passing the MOA “prematurely.”

One (potentially) bad sign for the latest volley in Campbell’s anti-tunnel crusade: Campbell is filing the suit without an attorney.




  • Francis

    The MOA is a gesture in any event. It’s happening.

  • Francis

    The MOA is a gesture in any event. It’s happening.

  • Francis

    The MOA is a gesture in any event. It’s happening.

  • http://www.joeszilagyi.com Joe Szilagyi

    We need to tear down the viaduct. But…

    …tunnel or no tunnel for a replacement, the fact that we’re on the hook for cost overruns beyond our control only on the city level for a STATE asset is pretty much bullshit.

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/tag/2009+election Gomez

    Joe’s got a point. The City needs to focus more on the fact they’re on the hook for overruns. Being a State highway, that should be the State’s responsibility.

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/tag/2009+election Gomez

    Joe’s got a point. The City needs to focus more on the fact they’re on the hook for overruns. Being a State highway, that should be the State’s responsibility.

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/tag/2009+election Gomez

    Joe’s got a point. The City needs to focus more on the fact they’re on the hook for overruns. Being a State highway, that should be the State’s responsibility.

  • sarah68

    It is a state highway, but I think the tunnel option was pushed so hard by the City (i.e., Nickels) that the Legislature’s deal was that Seattle would be responsible for the overruns. That liability will be Nickels’ continuing gift to the City.

  • sarah68

    It is a state highway, but I think the tunnel option was pushed so hard by the City (i.e., Nickels) that the Legislature’s deal was that Seattle would be responsible for the overruns. That liability will be Nickels’ continuing gift to the City.

  • sarah68

    It is a state highway, but I think the tunnel option was pushed so hard by the City (i.e., Nickels) that the Legislature’s deal was that Seattle would be responsible for the overruns. That liability will be Nickels’ continuing gift to the City.

  • SCAT

    Seattle Citizens Against the Tunnel.

    Do they really want to be known as that?

    Time to move on SCAT. The Viaduct is coming down. Focus on cleaning up the Sound or GasWorks Park.

  • SCAT

    Seattle Citizens Against the Tunnel.

    Do they really want to be known as that?

    Time to move on SCAT. The Viaduct is coming down. Focus on cleaning up the Sound or GasWorks Park.

  • SCAT

    Seattle Citizens Against the Tunnel.

    Do they really want to be known as that?

    Time to move on SCAT. The Viaduct is coming down. Focus on cleaning up the Sound or GasWorks Park.

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/tag/2009+election Gomez

    I think many other sources confirmed that the tunnel was a better option than a straight rebuild due to waterfront stability issues. And IIRC the relative price tags between a straight rebuild and a tunnel weren’t dramatically different.

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/tag/2009+election Gomez

    I think many other sources confirmed that the tunnel was a better option than a straight rebuild due to waterfront stability issues. And IIRC the relative price tags between a straight rebuild and a tunnel weren’t dramatically different.

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/tag/2009+election Gomez

    I think many other sources confirmed that the tunnel was a better option than a straight rebuild due to waterfront stability issues. And IIRC the relative price tags between a straight rebuild and a tunnel weren’t dramatically different.

  • http://www.joeszilagyi.com/ Joe Szilagyi

    We need to tear down the viaduct. But…

    …tunnel or no tunnel for a replacement, the fact that we're on the hook for cost overruns beyond our control only on the city level for a STATE asset is pretty much bullshit.