top of page

WHERE Z STANDS ON THE ISSUES

Affordable Housing

Our city’s housing challenges are multifaceted and demand a Council that is committed to our City’s long-term success. We need to ensure our housing supply addresses the needs of affordability, rising demand, and accessibility, while also aligning with state-mandated housing goals.

Our residents, both current and future, deserve quality, affordable housing. However, issues such as high construction costs, bureaucratic hurdles, and an overburdened system are exacerbating this already significant problem. As a result, we are witnessing a troubling trend: a decline in cost-effective housing in favor of luxury units that are out of reach for many. As Council Member, Zekiah will address these issues head-on. Zekiah will work to reduce the costs associated with building affordable housing and will incentivize developers to accelerate the creation of affordable units. Recognizing the importance of community input, Zekiah will ensure that residents, especially homeowners affected by construction projects, voices are heard early on in the decision-making process. Our city deserves a Councilperson who is committed to making sensible zoning decisions that balance our community’s identity with the need for increased housing. Zekiah believes that the path forward lies in innovative partnerships with stakeholders, updates to zoning regulations, integrating billboards/signage, and providing financial assistance to ‘mom and pop’ landlords for improvements. By taking these steps, we can work together to build a more affordable and inclusive city for everyone.

Affordable Housing Icon.png

Businesses

     Zekiah’s mantra is “Let Business Thrive!” Vacant storefronts, loss   of many of our beloved businesses, and over regulation threaten the sustainability of our local businesses. Decisions by our current council have disadvantaged our businesses.

Under Zekiah’s leadership, West Hollywood will be a thriving, business-friendly City again. As a business-owner, Zekiah understands the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. This is why Zekiah is committed to crafting solutions to fit our business owners’ needs. Zekiah will fight to keep businesses doors open. Zekiah will advocate for small business grants and other financial relief, streamline administrative processes, and implement policies ‘by businesses, for businesses’ since they know best what they need to succeed.    Zekiah believes our businesses are the heart of our City’s local economy. When businesses succeed, our City succeeds. Under Zekiah’s leadership, businesses will have the tools they need to succeed.

Business Icon.png

Homelessness

The failed policies of our current Council have exacerbated the conditions that create and perpetuate homelessness. We must explore proven and fresh ideas to fight this head on. Zekiah will deploy solutions that chip away at the causes of homelessness, including: lack of affordable housing, mental illness, substance abuse, and job loss.

From a comprehensive lens, Zekiah will be responsive to the needs and concerns of residents. Zekiah will create policies that protect our housed neighbors while providing resources to our neighbors living on the streets. Greater pathways to self-reliance and independence are key strategies in Zekiah’s plan to reduce the City’s rates of homelessness. Measurable goals based on residents’ input and collaboration are ways Zekiah will empower communities to be active participants in creating solutions. Eliminating homelessness helps us all.

Homelessness.png

Growing needs have led to our Sheriff’s department being tasked with responding to every social ill imaginable, many of which our Sheriff’s cannot be expected to solve. Zekiah will invest in our law enforcement, including technology upgrades and trained mental health response teams, freeing up precious resources for our

Sheriff’s department to be able to respond quickly to emergencies, prevent violence, and solve crimes in our community.  Zekiah believes partnering with our Sheriff’s department is crucial to protect residents, visitors, businesses, and tourists.  In 2022, Zekiah proposed establishing a Victims Advocate to liaison between crime victims and the Sheriff’s department. Zekiah’s then-board, the Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board, unanimously approved Zekiah’s proposal. Although the City Council failed to pass this item, the Sheriff’s department is now working on establishing a Victims Advocate. On Council, Zekiah will advance policies that anticipate our growing safety needs and address our safety concerns.

Safety.png

Public Safety

Fountain Avenue Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WEHO CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE ZEKIAH WRIGHT CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION ON FOUNTAIN AVENUE SAFETY

17 October 2024

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – Recent accidents on Fountain Avenue, including a tragic fatality, have deeply affected our community. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the friends, families, and communities impacted, and I affirm my commitment to making Fountain Avenue safer for everyone. These heartbreaking incidents, occurring so close together, underscore the urgent need for immediate action. No one should have to experience such tragedy while driving through our city, and it’s clear Fountain Avenue is in need of change.

The current debate surrounding Fountain Avenue has largely focused on whether to add bike lanes or do nothing at all. While I support bike lanes and have proposals to implement them on alternative streets, I do not believe that bike lanes on Fountain would address the core issues of speeding and safety. These tragic incidents were not caused by a lack of bike lanes; they were the result of dangerous speeding and insufficient traffic control devices. What we urgently need are stronger enforcement measures, improved traffic controls, and measures like elevated crosswalks to deter speeding. Simply diverting traffic to other streets without tackling the root causes of these incidents only shifts the problem elsewhere in our city and puts cyclists in harm’s way. As we've seen in cities like Culver City, Beverly Hills, and San Diego, adding bike lanes to busy streets often fails to reduce speeding and frequently results in their removal. My focus is on a comprehensive city-wide strategy that prioritizes safety, access, and mobility for all road users. I am proudly supporting the WeHo for the People Rally on October 18th at the corner of Crescent Heights and Fountain Avenue. This rally aims to raise awareness, honor those affected by car accidents, educate the community, and advocate for safety on Fountain Avenue — a goal that unites all sides of this debate. I encourage everyone to join us in this important effort. Please sign the petition to show your support for real solutions on Fountain Avenue. https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-fountain-ave-bike-lanes Zekiah N. Wright Resident of Fountain Ave & West Hollywood City Council Candidate

SHARE YOUR IDEAS

Have ideas or concerns that West Hollywood needs to address? We are here to listen!

Fill out the survey below, or

bottom of page