The ongoing impasse in San Francisco over the EarthLink/Google Wi-Fi deal looks like it's heading to a somewhat logical (or, at least, democratic) conclusion. According to the Wall Street Journal's Kevin J. Delaney, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom is putting a measure on the November ballot that will let voters decide whether or not to approve the network.

Still, it's worth noting that the measure is largely symbolic. "Voter approval of the measure wouldn't impose any binding requirements, but rather signal public support for a high-profile mayoral initiative that has encountered major delays and opposition," Delaney writes.

Wi-Fi Networking News' Glenn Fleishman thinks it's too little, too late. "The existing contract with EarthLink was already unlikely to move forward due to EarthLink's business model changes," he writes. "The emendations to the contract requested by the supervisors' head ensure that EarthLink will ultimately back out. I give it another four to six weeks before the whole deal is over."

More here from Broadband Reports ... more here from Ars Technica ... and more here from the San Francisco Chronicle.