essential actions, in order of importance

Decriminalize Seattle and King County Equity Now are joining forces to create a participatory budgeting process for the 2021 budget cycle.

Participatory budgeting is a democratic process in which community members decide how to spend part of a public budget. This process will inform and help guide Seattle’s spending on the city’s “public safety” agencies, with a focus on the Seattle Police Department, Law Department (City Prosecutors), and Municipal Court, and on the community reinvestments that could generate real safety.

Our city’s budget is a moral document that speaks to how seriously our elected officials are taking the fight to defend Black lives. Join us in informing where city dollars go! Check out our one-pager about participatory budgeting to learn more.

Want to be part of the process to defund SPD and reinvest in real community safety? Fill out this form to sign up for updates on how to get involved.

We believe that objective boots-on-the-ground coverage is paramount for a well-informed and engaged society. We’re dedicated to continuing our work but we can’t do it alone. Please consider supporting our mission to cover critical issues in the Pacific Northwest from the street level.

King County Equity now is a coalition of accountable, black led, community based organizations fighting to achieve equity now. 

White People. DOING Something. is a group for people who identify as white and/or have white skin privilege to do our own work with guidance and coaching from Black people.

• We’re creating space for possibility, where justice and equal opportunity can grow. We’re doing it individually, out in the open, together, one comment-thread, one check-in, one day at a time.  

** lots of helpful webinars happening! 

Tens of thousands of individuals like you, and hundreds of organizations - have signed on to the demand to defund the Seattle Police Department by 50% in defense of Black lives. In response to public pressure, a veto-proof majority of Seattle City Council has pledged to cut SPD's budget by 50%. We are so close to seeing this pledge turn into a vote!

As of July 23rd, there was $188.6 million left in SPD's 2020 budget. Fifty percent of SPD's remaining budget is 94.3 million dollars. It's time for city council to turn their pledge into action.

We are ready for action and have created committees that you can join at whatever time commitment you can offer.  We will be posting about an open meeting in September, seeking volunteers who:

• create graphics
• have a direct connection with the on the ground movement
• write compelling essays/blogs/articles
• are nerdy and can research & report to group
• know local politics
• know how to create marketing emails
• enjoy interviewing people
• have connections in the schools
• can educate others about defund/redlining/racism
• are youth who want to get involved

Email us at hello@thinkbigwedgwood.com with your area of expertise