Hosted by: King County Equity Now
Moderators: Latricia Jackson & Fynniecko Glover Jr
Location: Brunch & Ballots Voter Education Forum
Candidates: Dionne Foster and Sara Nelson
Candidate Introductions
Dionne Foster:
Thank you for having me. My name is Dionne Foster, and I’m running for Seattle City Council. I’m passionate about wealth and homeownership because I was able to buy my own home thanks to down-payment assistance — a program that helped me and my family stay in Seattle.
I currently teach at the University of Washington School of Social Work, and I most recently served as Executive Director of the Washington Progress Alliance, helping fund grassroots organizing across the state. Before that, I worked at the Seattle Foundation, where I pushed the organization to invest more in Black-led nonprofits and community-driven equity initiatives.
I’m proud to have supported efforts like R-88 (affirmative action reinstatement) — even though it didn’t pass, it helped shift the conversation toward justice. I bring humility, collaboration, and a lifelong commitment to strengthening community partnerships and making Seattle the equitable city we all know it can be.
Sarah Nelson:
Thank you for hosting us. I’m Sarah Nelson, the current Councilmember for District 9, and I’m running for re-election to build on the progress of the past four years.
Seattle in 2025 is not the same city it was in 2021, and it won’t be the same tomorrow. I’m running to protect that progress — especially against national political threats that could roll it back. Seattle needs a fighter with experience — someone who can take on tough fights and win them.
For example, I helped resolve the Equitable Budget Initiative funding dispute and secured $22 million in allocations, including $1 million for the Midtown Plaza Project. I’ll continue to champion community-led projects that strengthen Black Seattle and protect our shared progress.
Summary:
Foster emphasized equity, housing access, and grassroots partnerships grounded in her lived experience.
Nelson highlighted experience, fiscal stewardship, and defending Seattle’s progress from external political threats.
Closing the Wealth Gap
Moderator:
The wealth gap between Black and white Seattle residents continues to widen. If elected, what specific programs or policies would you implement to create measurable equity for Black families — in dollars, programs, and timelines?
Sarah Nelson:
As a longtime small-business owner, I know small businesses are the backbone of Seattle’s economy. We must strengthen the ecosystem that supports Black- and minority-owned businesses — the same businesses that create jobs and sustain communities.
My focus is on low- or no-interest loan access, commercial property ownership, and permitting reform so entrepreneurs can grow. Ownership — not just participation — is key to wealth building. I’ll keep working with the Office of Economic Development to ensure real opportunities for business growth and generational stability.
Dionne Foster:
We can’t close the wealth gap without addressing housing inequity and zoning. Redlining and restrictive single-family zoning have pushed Black families out of Seattle. We must use our land-use tools to both protect existing Black homeowners and expand housing options in under-developed areas.
I support racially targeted down-payment assistance with oversight to ensure funds reach Black families. Homeownership remains the primary engine of generational wealth, and city programs must reflect that reality.
Whenever legislation comes before Council, I’ll ask: “How does this impact Black residents?” From job programs to housing budgets, accountability through data is essential.
Summary:
Nelson focused on business ownership and local economic growth.
Foster centered housing equity, zoning reform, and racial accountability as key to closing Seattle’s wealth gap.
Retaining and Returning Black Families
Moderator:
The Central District was once 70 percent Black and is now less than 15 percent. What’s your plan to help Black families retain or return to their homes? How will you measure results?
Dionne Foster:
While at the Seattle Foundation, I helped fund the community preference policy that prioritizes housing for residents with historic ties to a neighborhood. That was a good start — but we need stronger protections.
We must regulate predatory home-buying practices that pressure seniors and longtime homeowners to sell below market value. Cities like Philadelphia require wholesale buyers to register and disclose activity. Seattle should adopt a similar ordinance to slow displacement and preserve Black-owned homes.
Sarah Nelson:
My work on Council has focused on keeping people housed and helping them buy. We expanded first-time homebuyer assistance, helping 150 families purchase homes in 2024, and allocated $5.2 million in rental assistance to prevent evictions.
I supported 400–500 units of workforce housing in the stadium district with commercial spaces for minority-owned businesses through the Main Street program. Ownership and access to space are how we stop displacement and preserve generational wealth.
Summary:
Foster proposed regulation of predatory buyers and expanded community preference programs.
Nelson cited existing housing and rental-assistance investments tied to minority business development.
Anti-Displacement & Development
Moderator:
Seattle’s comprehensive plan has failed to stop Black displacement. What anti-displacement measures will you champion, and how will you ensure Black businesses benefit from development?
Sarah Nelson:
Zoning can’t be one-size-fits-all. We need to recognize the historic extraction of labor and wealth from Black neighborhoods and tailor land-use policies to protect long-term homeowners and renters. Different areas need different approaches that balance growth with cultural preservation.
Dionne Foster:
Displacement isn’t just residential — it hits small businesses too. New developments often create oversized, unaffordable commercial spaces that sit vacant. We should require smaller, affordable storefronts and priority leasing for local entrepreneurs, especially Black business owners.
I also propose extending community preference policies to commercial spaces so Black-owned businesses have the first right to return. These businesses are both economic and cultural anchors that keep our neighborhoods alive.
Summary:
Nelson emphasized customized zoning and anti-extraction policies.
Foster advocated for inclusive commercial design and first-rights-of-return for Black businesses.
Reparations and Accountability
Moderator:
How will you advance reparations-focused policies to address historical harm toward Seattle’s Black community?
Dionne Foster:
We need real reparations, not endless studies. I support the state-level Reparations Task Force and will fight for city funding once recommendations are released.
Because of Washington’s limits on affirmative action and public-fund usage, we must find creative legal pathways to deliver equity. That includes data disaggregation so we can track results for Black residents — while ensuring privacy protections against federal overreach.
Sarah Nelson:
I fully support Mayor Harrell’s $5 million reparations package for descendants of enslaved people. It’s a critical first step. Beyond that, we should channel funds directly through trusted community nonprofits to get money where it’s needed fastest.
The simplest and most impactful approach is direct benefit — putting resources into Black communities and allowing residents to decide how best to use them.
Summary:
Foster stressed structural change, legal creativity, and data accountability.
Nelson focused on immediate direct-aid funding through nonprofit and city partnerships.
Black Youth Opportunities
Moderator:
What concrete programs will you fund to give Black youth educational, enrichment, and economic opportunities?
Sarah Nelson:
Youth investment is prevention. I secured $43,000 in city funding for the CD Panthers Football and Cheer teams so families wouldn’t face $500 fees per child. Programs like this teach teamwork and confidence — skills that go far beyond sports. Councilmembers should look at what’s already working and fund it.
Dionne Foster:
We have to hold ourselves accountable for education outcomes. At Rainier Beach High School, community members told us only about 30 percent of Black boys are reading at grade level. That’s unacceptable.
As a councilmember, I’ll use oversight over the Families & Education Preschool Levy and Library Levy to ensure mental-health and academic resources actually reach Black youth. Libraries are also critical safe spaces after school; we must keep them open and well-funded as community hubs.
Summary:
Nelson underscored funding for community-based youth programs.
Foster emphasized educational accountability, mental-health access, and safe learning spaces.
Lightning Round
Moderators asked yes/no questions:
- Support disaggregating data for descendants of American chattel slavery?
- Support reparations for descendants of slavery?
- Support a $1 billion Reparative Development Fund for housing, business, and workforce training?
- Support Black community control of resources intended for Black communities?
- Support expanding paid opportunities for youth?
- Support funding for community-led housing like the Cairo site?
- Support creating an Office of Freedmen to represent descendants of enslaved people?
Both candidates signaled general support for these initiatives.