Seattle mayor, council clash over universal meals
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Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s bid to provide universal, taxpayer-funded breakfast and lunch for Seattle Public Schools has sparked a fierce clash with the City Council over funding and equity. A committee delayed the initial rollout and shifted roughly $6 million from a property tax levy intended for universal meals into a voucher-style program that would provide gifts cards to Black and other minority families for food during holidays and the summer. Council President Joy Hollingsworth and Councilwoman Dionne Foster argued for a means-tested approach funded from the general fund, saying the new plan would better target need and address gaps in coverage. Wilson contends the universal meals are financed by a voter-approved FEPP Levy rather than the general fund and criticized the council for delaying the program. After pressure from council members and public comments, a revival emerged to fund universal meals for the 2026–2027 school year from the city’s general fund, signaling a partial reversal from earlier delays. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between the mayor and the council over sustainability, equity, and the city’s approach to addressing student hunger.
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