Addressing Affordability in Housing and Energy
Kisha is a proven housing advocate and a strong voice for working families across the county. She has consistently fought for decent, safe, and affordable housing, recognizing that stable housing is the foundation of strong communities. Through her work with the NAACP and CVH, Kisha successfully advocated for a 20% affordable housing set-aside in all new market-rate developments, ensuring growth benefits for everyone—not just a few. According to the most recent Westchester County Housing Needs Assessment, nearly 12,000 new housing units are needed to close the growing housing gap. At the same time, residents are being squeezed by rising energy costs as utility companies like Con Edison and NYSEG push for rate increases that many families simply cannot afford. Kisha believes that addressing housing affordability must go hand in hand with protecting residents from excessive energy costs. She is committed to working intentionally and collaboratively to expand affordable housing opportunities while holding energy providers accountable. Her goal is simple and clear: to ensure that families, seniors, and working people can afford to live—and stay—in the communities they call home.
Protecting Public Health and Safety
Having battled COVID pneumonia in both lungs in March 2020, Kisha knows firsthand how deeply healthcare access and quality can differ by community. Her experience in the Emergency Room at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx—an economically disadvantaged area—stood in stark contrast to care at Lawrence Hospital. Those differences underscore why equitable healthcare is not just a medical issue, but a public safety issue. Westchester County’s recent investment in Neighborhood Community Health Centers through ARPA funding is a meaningful step in the right direction. Kisha strongly supports continuing and expanding this program so that all residents, regardless of zip code, have access to timely, quality care. Public Health and Public Safety go hand in hand. Public safety isn’t only about police or enforcement. It’s about investing in and integrating the resources that keep communities truly safe—healthcare, mental health services, jobs, education, and housing. Westchester County has strong Public Safety, Probation, and Corrections departments, along with an outstanding Department of Community Mental Health. Kisha supports a balanced approach that includes Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRT), shifting mental health crisis response from an enforcement issue to a health and social support issue whenever possible.
Safeguarding Sustainability
Protecting our environment and preparing Westchester County for the impacts of climate change must remain a top priority. As County Legislator, Kisha will work to expand climate-resilient infrastructure, prioritize environmental justice, and ensure that communities most impacted by climate change are not left behind.
Since its creation in 2015, the Office of Energy Conservation and Sustainability has delivered real results, and Kisha is committed to strengthening and expanding its work so every community benefits. In Eastchester, sustainable school building upgrades, including skylights, waterless urinals, energy-efficient lighting, and climate-controlled classrooms, reduced energy use, lowered costs, and created healthier learning environments.
In Yonkers, Kisha has worked directly on air quality and flood mitigation as a member of the Client Safe Yonkers Task Force, partnering with Groundwork Hudson Valley to advance practical, community-centered solutions. Current projects include retrofitting subsidized housing developments with green infrastructure such as shade trees, rain gardens, stormwater systems, and shoreline stabilization along the Sawmill River. These efforts reduce flooding, combat extreme heat, improve quality of life, and create training and job opportunities for local youth.
Kisha will continue to support long-term capital funding to protect and improve Westchester’s parks, from Twin Lakes Park in Eastchester to Tibbetts Brook Park and Trevor Park in Yonkers, ensuring these shared spaces remain affordable, accessible, and well-maintained for future generations. Our parks are not only environmental assets; they are pathways to employment, offering opportunities for young people to build lasting careers right here in Westchester County.
Tracking Transportation
Reliable public transportation is critical to quality of life and economic opportunity in Yonkers, Bronxville, and Eastchester. While Westchester County’s implementation of OMNY modernizes access to transit, continued investment in Bee-Line and ParaTransit services is essential to ensure transportation remains affordable, efficient, and dependable.
Too many working families rely on public transit every day, and a commute should never become a financial burden or a barrier to employment. Smart, accountable use of technology can improve service, as demonstrated in Eastchester, where updated routing software and staff training led to more efficient and responsive bus routes.
As County Legislator, Kisha will advocate for innovative transportation solutions that better connect communities, expand opportunity, and make public transit a true, reliable alternative to driving.