ECITF Recommendations will invest $30 million dollars to improve disparate outcomes for communities furthest from equity
Seattle (August 3, 2021) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan issued the following statement following the passage of $30 million in investments recommended by the Equitable Communities Initiative Task Force (ECITF) out of City Council Finance and Housing Committee today. The Task Force developed 9 recommendations with 18 strategies to strengthen communities of color so that they can thrive
“Seattle continues to move forward on its commitment to address generational wrongs that have had a devastating impact on communities of color. With these recommendations passing out of committee, we are one step closer to investing $30 million to create meaningful change for communities disproportionately impacted by historic injustices,” said Mayor Durkan. “I want to again thank the leaders who volunteered their time and expertise to put forward recommendations that will begin to change the trajectory of our city. These leaders brought their experience and strong community input to the table to make recommendations that will serve our city for years to come. The best ideas come from the community, and their work underscores that fact. By working together, they’ve shown what’s possible when the government steps out of the way so that community can step forward with real solutions. I look forward to these recommendations being approved in full council next week.”
These investments begin to correct disparities caused by government-sanctioned and racist policies, which negatively-effect the Black and Indigenous communities at disproportionate rates. The legislation was developed after Task Force members and city departments developed implementation plans for each recommended strategy. In 2020, Mayor Durkan requested that the City, for the first time, build the budget around $100 million in investments in BIPOC communities and established the ECITF that had a range of voices.