Rashi Kesarwani

I’m honored to serve as the Councilmember for Berkeley’s District 1, encompassing the northwest section of Berkeley including the Gilman District, Fourth Street shops, several major parks (Ohlone, Cedar Rose, and James Kenney), as well as the North Berkeley BART Station. I’m focused on creating a safe, healthy, and welcoming community for all. My priorities include addressing homelessness and the shortage of affordable homes, keeping our public spaces clean, ensuring community safety, and addressing our long-term under-investment in street paving and other vital infrastructure.

My husband George and I live around the corner from Totland with our young son, Austin. I came to Berkeley in 2010 to earn a Master of Public Policy from U.C. Berkeley. I then worked in Sacramento, where I advised the state legislature on health and social services programs and helped to secure overtime pay for low-wage home care workers. Most recently, I worked as a Finance Manager for San Francisco’s Human Services Agency, which provides safety net programs to low-income individuals and families. I grew up in Southern California as the daughter of immigrants from India. I attended public schools before receiving my college degree from Brown University.