Two voting-related notes regarding the Highway 99 tunnel: First, according to a news release from the Seattle City Attorney’s Office, King County Superior Court Judge Joan DuBuque has ruled that anti-tunnel Initiative 101 should not be on the fall ballot because it “is beyond the scope of the initiative power because it purports to exercise a power that was directly delegated to the City Council and Mayor.” So, the news release adds, “Unless Judge DuBuque’s decision is appealed and overturned, I-101 in its entirety will not appear on the November ballot. The initiative was designed to prohibit the City of Seattle from using city streets to aid in the construction of a deep-bore tunnel to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, a project of the Washington State Department of Transportation.”

What IS going before voters is Seattle Referendum 1, asking them to approve or reject a section of a city ordinance related to Seattle’s role in the 99 tunnel project. The “section” is what remains after a separate court fight. Referendum 1 is on the August 16th ballot, and if you would like to hear from both sides, in one place, before making up your mind, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce presents a public forum, moderated by your WSB editor, this Thursday night, 6 pm, West Seattle High School Theater.