Advocates urge Seattle council to approve FEPP levy amendments for restorative practices, legal aid and food support

Advocates and students urged the Seattle City Council during public comment to approve amendments to the Families Education and Preschool Promise (FEPP) levy that would expand restorative practices in schools, fund legal services for immigrant families and increase food access.

The testimony, given by youth organizers and nonprofit leaders representing the Keep Your Promise Coalition and partner groups, focused primarily on amendments 1, 5, 7 and 8 to the FEPP levy and called on the council to vote in favor of them; Councilmember Alexis Marcedes Rink told the room the council planned to vote on the amendments in about 13 minutes.

Why it matters: Supporters said the amendments would shift school safety away from punitive approaches toward community‑based prevention, provide legal defense for families facing deportation, and use levy dollars to expand food access for children and families. Speakers argued the changes would protect students who are especially vulnerable to federal immigration enforcement and that scheduling hearings during weekday mornings made it hard for students to participate.

“My name is Catherine Enchinose. I am an organizer with Seattle Student Union and a member of the Keep Your…