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Seattle City Council President Advocates for “Black Budget” Amid City’s Financial Strain
Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth has sparked discussion after revealing she operates with two distinct budgets—her District 3 budget and what she calls “the Black budget”—while encouraging Black residents to unite as “the most powerful political party” in Seattle.
The remarks, made at the State of Africatown 2026 conference in late February, have gained renewed attention after being highlighted by Seattle talk show host Jason Rantz. During her address at the public town hall focused on advancing Seattle’s Black community, Hollingsworth explained how she advocates for the “Black budget” to be reflected in the city’s general spending plan.
“So, I got two budgets every time I go to council member Dan Strauss every year. I have a district three budget and then a black budget,” Hollingsworth told attendees.
Her comments come at a challenging financial time for Seattle. Just days after her speech, Mayor Katie Wilson ordered city agencies to reduce their budgets for next year by 5% to 10%, as the city faces a projected budget deficit of $140 million for the 2026 fiscal year.
Hollingsworth described organizing approximately 70 Black residents to testify last year on the city’s budget during what she called “Black Budget Day,” emphasizing the importance of visibility and advocacy.
“It is important that they see us, that they hear us, that we just don’t show up for certain things that we are down here advocating for us,” Hollingsworth said. “There are political parties in Seattle and I believe that if black people come together, we can be the most powerful political party in the city of Seattle. We have to coalesce our power.”
The council president’s terminology has drawn criticism from some quarters. Rantz invited Hollingsworth on his radio show to explain the meaning behind the “Black budget,” suggesting that regardless of whether it represented an actual separate budget or was meant as political branding, it posed problems. “But we’d rightly call out a ‘white budget,'” Rantz wrote, questioning why Hollingsworth doesn’t advocate for similar budget considerations for other ethnic communities.
After reportedly canceling an interview with Rantz’s station, Hollingsworth provided clarification to Fox News Digital, explaining that the “Black budget” refers to “targeted investments and resources directed toward historically impacted communities in Seattle.”
“This is about addressing long-standing challenges in public safety, infrastructure, small business support, clean and safe parks, roads and sidewalks, and workforce development,” Hollingsworth stated.
The councilwoman emphasized that her focus remains on delivering basic city services to all communities. “In Seattle, we need to stay focused on delivering the city basics. That’s what communities across our city are asking for and what they want to see government deliver on every day. We are focused on the fundamentals of local government, safe streets, reliable infrastructure, responsive city services, and clean public spaces.”
When asked what percentage of Seattle’s $8.9 billion budget should be allocated to the “Black budget,” Hollingsworth responded simply: “8.9 billion dollars. The city’s budget.”
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of Seattle’s ongoing challenges with budgetary constraints and urban management. The Pacific Northwest city has faced criticism in recent years over its handling of homelessness, public safety, and infrastructure issues, with limited resources being stretched across competing priorities.
Seattle’s demographic makeup includes a Black population of approximately 7%, according to recent census data, while the city continues to address equity concerns across various communities. The discussion around targeted budgetary allocations reflects broader national conversations about how municipalities should address historical inequities while managing limited financial resources.
As Seattle grapples with its projected budget deficit, the debate over how resources should be allocated and which communities require specific attention will likely continue to be a significant aspect of the city’s political discourse.
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14 Comments
The ‘Black budget’ proposal highlights the ongoing struggle for equity and representation in local government. While the intent is laudable, the practical implementation will require navigating complex political and fiscal realities.
It will be important to closely monitor how this initiative develops and whether it can garner broad-based support. Balancing competing priorities and building coalitions will be key to its success.
While the ‘Black budget’ concept is ambitious, the underlying goal of addressing systemic inequities is commendable. Careful planning and inclusive stakeholder engagement will be crucial to navigating the political and fiscal realities.
It will be interesting to see how this proposal evolves and whether it can gain traction among the broader Seattle community. Balancing priorities while promoting equity is a delicate balance.
Interesting proposal by the Seattle council member to advocate for a dedicated ‘Black budget’ to address the community’s needs. I’m curious to learn more about the specifics and how it would be funded and implemented.
It’s an ambitious idea, but I wonder how it would be received politically and whether it could garner broad enough support to become reality. The budget challenges facing the city add another layer of complexity.
This highlights the continued push for greater equity and representation in local government decision-making. Allocating specific resources for the Black community could make a real difference, but the political realities will be key.
Mobilizing the Black community as a ‘political party’ is a bold strategy. It will be interesting to see if this gains traction and translates into tangible policy changes.
The council member’s advocacy for a dedicated ‘Black budget’ is a bold move that recognizes the need for targeted investment in underserved communities. However, the city’s broader budget challenges will likely pose significant hurdles.
Mobilizing the Black community as a political force is a strategic approach, but ensuring inclusivity and avoiding further polarization will be crucial. Thoughtful dialogue and compromise may be necessary.
The ‘Black budget’ concept is an intriguing approach to address long-standing disparities. However, the city’s broader fiscal challenges may complicate efforts to make this a reality. Thoughtful implementation will be crucial.
I’m curious to learn more about how the ‘Black budget’ would be structured and integrated into the overall city budget. Balancing priorities across different constituencies will be a key consideration.
Kudos to the council member for highlighting the need for more targeted investment in the Black community. In the face of budget constraints, creative solutions like the ‘Black budget’ may be necessary to drive meaningful change.
The political mobilization angle is an intriguing approach, but it will be important to ensure broad-based support and avoid further polarization. Thoughtful dialogue will be key to making progress.