Kesha Hodge Washington
YOUR Advocate for District 8
YOUR Advocate for District 8
About Kesha
Kesha Hodge Washington has been active in the City of Phoenix, District 8, for over twenty years. She has and continues to volunteer and serve in many areas, from voter registration and civic engagement to providing food and basic necessities to individuals in need. The current issues facing District 8 require an intentional, strategic, and comprehensive approach.
She moved to Arizona from the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1999 and has been active in Phoenix ever since. The daughter of a mechanic and a bookkeeper, Kesha is a first-generation college graduate who earned her bachelors degree from the University of the Virgin Islands and her law degree from Arizona State University College of Law.
Kesha is a former Assistant Attorney General who practiced law in Phoenix for 20 years. After graduating from law school, she clerked at the Arizona Court of Appeals for Honorable Cecil B. Patterson and then as a senior law clerk to Honorable Maurice “Mo” Portley. She served as Assistant Attorney General working to protect children in physically and sexually abusive environments, was later appointed Special Deputy Attorney General to investigate and prosecute election law violations by former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and routinely provided free representation to tenant families and individuals facing eviction. Kesha also successfully represented consumers getting ripped off by big insurance companies who—after collecting years of premiums—refused to pay out the promised benefits. Her twenty years of experience in law firm, government practice, and in-house settings has given Kesha valuable insight on how to effectively achieve results.
Kesha has always been determined. She has put that determination into action in courtrooms and in her work to raise scholarship money for high school and college students, mentor young women, and provide free legal services to those in need. Kesha is active with a number of organizations including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Cottonfields Homeowners Association, and the American Bar Association.
Kesha is a professional problem solver, lawyer, consensus builder, and a passionate leader committed to the constructive development of our community. Never one to sit on the sideline, Kesha believes in leading by example and is ready to zealously advocate for District 8 and bring a fresh perspective and innovative solutions to Phoenix City Council.
Kesha's Priorities
On Phoenix City Council, Kesha’s priorities will center on intentional, strategic, and comprehensive approaches to:
Increase funding for community initiatives that support education at all ages
Encourage residents to serve on City boards and commissions
Ensure residents have a “voice” in the decision-making process of our City, by having an “open door” relationship
Fight to make Phoenix a more equitable city where everyone is treated fairly and safely in everyday life
Champion to make Phoenix a hub for higher-wage jobs, by supporting investments in and partnerships for free or low-cost educational and training/retraining opportunities for high skilled and better paying jobs
Support policies that further economic growth, partnership arrangements, small business and entrepreneurial assistance, and in the appropriate cases, property use, tax credits, and/or grants
Attract and support new businesses and corporations to Phoenix, with a reasoned balance of corporate and small business development and retention
Collaborate with city, community, and business leaders/organizations to ensure balanced and mutually beneficial economic and regulatory policies that support small businesses, attract jobs, and drive higher wages and opportunity for all Phoenicians
Advocate keeping Phoenix taxes low
Lobby for more amenities (such as hospitals, grocery stores, healthier restaurants) and further economic development (like new entertainment options) in District 8
Advocate for allocations from the upcoming bond initiatives in a manner that addresses these inequities, particularly in the historically disenfranchised and overlooked communities
Work to get homeless individuals and families into housing, with access to the services they need through the creation of new emergency shelter facilities with sufficient beds to address the thousands of unsheltered individuals staying on city streets or encamping in the public right of ways
Ensure there are specific pathways in conjunction with private/public partnerships to address the issues of homeless individuals who are severely mentally ill, dealing with substance abuse, and other circumstances that complicate the provision of services
Advocate for the accelerated increase of affordable and workforce housing opportunities in the city, through public/private partnerships, direct acquisitions, incentives for certain projects, and redevelopment/reimagined use of city-owned properties
Expand the number of housing vouchers available for low-income individuals
Provide assistance to residents facing foreclosure and/or evictions
Educate landlords and tenants about the rental assistance program and streamline the same to include direct communications with the landlord to reduce evictions
Support below market, workforce, multi-family, creative housing mixes (zoning changes, tiny houses, container homes, etc.) and infill housing to increase the housing supply
Amend Zoning Ordinance to include affordable housing incentives and the allowance of accessory dwelling units in target areas
Update the older infrastructure to account for the population growth and modernize some for efficiency
Extend the installation of cool pavement throughout the City
Repair the roads/streets that are in bad shape
Expand the existing roadway and freeway system to alleviate traffic and increase roadway safety
Increase features that would support more pedestrian/bicycle travel, like additional pedestrian walkways/bridges
Install sidewalks in all areas, where feasible, and plant trees and/or install strategic shade canopy coverage along the sidewalks to promote pedestrian mobility without reliance on a vehicle
Enhance amenities and offerings/activities at public parks (particularly older locations) to maximize usage and enjoyment
Install additional parks and open spaces to balance higher density projects
More consistent maintenance of the parks and allocate existing funds to expand parks/schools in the lower income communities
Invest in our safety services to hire and retain additional police, fire and EMTs to meet the demands of our growing city
Improve response time with effective and strategic presence
Focus on adequate staffing and retention programs and comprehensive training and preparation
Invest in education (such as de-escalation and nonviolent intervention) for public safety personnel to ensure that the interactions are more positive and beneficial to all involved, bridging the gap between citizens and law enforcement
Increase on-the-job resources such as mental health support
Address public safety concerns with evidence-based solutions to address root causes by meeting the basic underlying needs
Advocate for funding appropriate resources for community-based initiatives and services that address the underlying problems that generally lead to police interaction
Support avenues that foster accountability and transparency to restore community trust and strong community relationships
Help residents identify ways to curtail their demand and usage, by encouraging the use of low-water/indigenous plants in landscaping, pool covers to reduce evaporation, incentivizing residents to transition from flood irrigation to more conservative means when possible, providing free or low-cost water audits to users, and promoting the upgrade to low flow fixtures inside the home through partial or full grants to qualifying residents
Increase public awareness of the crisis and foster a sense of community and individual responsibility for addressing
Ensure that City facilities, parks, and public spaces efficiently use water
Work to address the District 8 neighborhoods dealing with toxic waste sites, contaminated groundwater, and the highest asthma rates in the state.
Prioritize the implementation of a comprehensive climate action and adaptation plan
Pursue energy efficiency and renewable energy usage throughout our city
Transition the City’s fleet and public transportation system away from fossil fuels
