Dionne Foster Runs for Seattle City Council Position 9

“I want a city hall that's going to be responsive to people and open to people.” - Dionne Foster (Photo: Derrick Jones-Nelson)

By Mead Gill

Dionne Foster, a leading Seattle City Council candidate for Position 9, is focused on improving affordability, promoting responsive governance, and ensuring safe and accessible streets. Challenging incumbent Council President Sara Nelson, Foster is committed to rebuilding public trust, which she believes Nelson has undermined, by prioritizing affordable housing and reformed public safety measures.

Who is Dionne Foster?

From serving as executive director of the nonprofit Washington Progress Alliance to raising a 12-year-old son, Foster’s personal and professional background shaped her policy priorities for city council. Raised by her mother in a working-class family, Foster helped pay bills as a teenager to keep the lights on. Later, as a policy advisor for the City of Seattle in water utilities, she worked to deliver affordable utility services to families like her own, bringing her story full circle. 

“I want a city hall that's going to be responsive to people and open to people,” she said, stressing the importance for City Council engaging directly in meaningful conversation with community members.

Affordable Housing Initiatives

Foster emphasized the importance of finalizing the city’s Comprehensive Plan as it relates to  housing, advocating for a more diverse distribution of affordable apartments. Drawing inspiration from successful housing initiatives in Austin, Texas, she aims to reduce the overall cost of living by expanding the availability of apartments and other affordable housing throughout the city. 

Backing the Mayor’s recent housing legislation, Foster wants to protect homeowners from predatory practices by potential buyers. She voiced support for pilot housing projects designed to benefit communities of color, including HomeSite's low-interest loans for Black developers building affordable homes.

Combatting Homelessness

At a recent public forum, Foster opposed Mayor Harrell’s encampment sweeps and proposed increased investment in tiny home villages to not only serve the homeless population but also communities across the city. She recalled recent conversations with Central District residents who expressed gratitude for the safety and sense of community that nearby tiny home villages have provided.

“We've got to make sure that we are creating places for people to go that are real and tangible and that match the solutions that they need,” Foster said, stressing that Black and Native communities are disproportionately affected by homelessness.

Dealing with the Budget Deficit

In response to the city’s unprecedented budget deficit, Foster is aiming for new revenue opportunities to protect “critical services” first.

“There's a potential for people to kind of get hit twice; first from cuts from the federal government directly…and then also to get hit at the local level,” she said, listing JumpStart funds, city food programs, summer services for children with disabilities, and other social services as top of her list.

In addition to backing the Seattle Shield proposal and a capital gains tax, Foster plans to collaborate with the state on progressive revenue solutions. Noting what she described as “total inaction” from Council President Nelson on the issue, Foster endorsed Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck’s progressive revenue amendment and pledged to continue approaching the deficit with a statewide strategy. 

Public Safety and SPD Reform

In working toward a responsive and effective Seattle Police Department (SPD), Foster advocated removing the requirement for the CARE Department, a community assisted crisis response service, to be co-deployed with SPD, aiming to improve response times and ensure social services are provided when needed. 

In light of recent sexual harassment allegations against the SPD in mind, Foster stressed the importance of building a police force with more women to better reflect Seattle’s diversity. 

She also supported amendments imposing additional constraints on less-lethal weapons. “I want this to be a place where my 12-year-old can grow up and be able to thrive,” she said when discussing gun violence. 

Investing in Public Transportation 

Foster called for a more people-centered transportation system and underlined the importance of regional transit and accessible bus lines. She praised the recent Race the L8 event, where over 200 people beat the L8 bus line on foot, and expressed hope to incentivize public transit for the general public with policy.

On the ongoing expansion of the light rail system, Foster assured that she would find ways to take care of communities negatively impacted by construction. “We need to make sure…we are responsive and that we are ensuring that that community is not going to be displaced,” she said while still supporting the city’s investment in fast and affordable public transit.  

The Road Toward the Election

With primary elections less than a week away, Foster is running against Council President Nelson and Connor Nash. By maximizing affordability through progressive housing and transportation initiatives, she hopes to back policies that directly benefit the communities imperative to what makes the Emerald City great. 

“Who are we working to make this a city for?” she said. “Those are the things that drive me.”

Learn more about Foster and her campaign at dionnefoster.com