"Amid hoots and hollers, City Council rejects McGinn’s tunnel veto"

Chris Grygiel (seattlepi.com):

Before a packed chamber filled with emotional and often rowdy people, the City Council on Monday overrode Mayor Mike McGinn’s veto of a deal between Seattle and the state to proceed with the tunnel replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

The eight to one vote was a foregone conclusion, but the arguments in the audience and between the Councilmembers were acrimonious and pitched.

“This is not Seattle at its best,” Councilman Bruce Harrell said before the eight to one vote.

Councilman Mike O’Brien, who will push for a public vote on the project, was the lone Councilman to support McGinn. McGinn vetoed the legislation Feb. 17. The veto was McGinn’s second as mayor. In April he nixed an ordinance the Council passed that would’ve allowed police to ticket aggressive beggars. That veto stood. MORE...

Howie P.S.: The Seattle Times story today features comments by Nic Licata, Vlad Oustimovitch, Chris Gregoire and a local labor representative.