Marqueece Harris-Dawson

Marqueece L. Harris-Dawson (born November 7, 1969)[1] is an American politician who currently represents the 8th district of the Los Angeles City Council since 2015.[2]

Marqueece Harris-Dawson
President pro tempore of the Los Angeles City Council
Assumed office
June 20, 2023
Preceded byCurren Price
Member of the Los Angeles City Council
from the 8th district
Assumed office
July 1, 2015
Preceded byBernard Parks
Personal details
Born (1969-11-07) November 7, 1969
Los Angeles, California U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationMorehouse College (BA)
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life and education

Harris-Dawson was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles to William Dawson, minister, and Cheryl Dawson, a clerk.[1] He grew up in South Los Angeles during the crack cocaine epidemic. His family moved from their neighborhood to protect their children from police and gang violence.[1]

Harris-Dawson graduated from Morehouse College with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Mathematics. He holds a certificate in non-profit management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and is an Aspen Institute Pahara Fellow.[1]

Los Angeles City Council
Harris-Dawson with Mayor Eric Garcetti after taking his oath of office in 2015.

Harris-Dawson was unanimously elected as President pro tempore of the City Council on June 20, 2023 after a scandal from Curren Price made Price resign from the office.[3]

Elections

In the primary election for District 8 in 2015, Harris-Dawson received over 62% of the vote for the vacant seat.[4] Because Harris-Dawson won outright, a general election for District 8 was not needed.[5] Term limits forced Bernard C. Parks, Harris-Dawson's predecessor since 2004, out of office.[6]

Position on housing

In 2020, Harris-Dawson introduced a motion calling for stricter zoning rules so as to limit student housing in Exposition Park and University Park.[7] He called for an investigation into a perceived overabundance of student housing developments.[8]

In 2022, he expressed support for the discretionary permit system in Los Angeles that gives City Council members discretionary power over land-use decisions.[9]

In 2016, Harris-Dawson co-authored Proposition HHH, a $1.2 billion bond measure to build permanent supportive housing for homeless people and people at risk of becoming homeless.[10] The measure appeared on the November 2016 municipal ballot and passed, with voters approving the measure 77% to 23%.[11]

Obstructing the Ethics Commission

In 2023, Harris-Dawson voted to block Jamie York, a nominee for the Ethics Commission. In doing so, Rodriguez prevented Ethics Commission from doing its work, which included enforcement of campaign finance, contracting, lobbying and conflict of interest laws. At the time, the LA City Council had been embroiled in numerous ethics scandals. Harris-Dawson did not explain his vote.[12]

References
  1. Harris-Dawson, Marqueece. "TOWARDS A NEW GENERATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERS IN LOS ANGELES" (PDF). The Durfee Foundation.
  2. LA Times: "Marqueece Harris-Dawson takes office as councilman of L.A.'s 8th District", 1 July 2015.
  3. "LA City Council elects Marqueece Harris-Dawson as the new president pro tempore". KTTV. June 20, 2023.
  4. My News LA: "L.A. election results: Marqueece Harris-Dawson wins 8th District city council race", 4 March 2015
  5. L.A. Weekly: "Marqueece Harris-Dawson, L.A.'s Newest Council Member, Represents a Lurch to the Left", 4 March 2015
  6. LA Times: "The Times endorses Marqueece Harris-Dawson in the 8th Council District", 11 February 2015
  7. "Update to South L.A. CPIO aims to shift development to commercial corridors". Urbanize LA. 2022-09-26.
  8. "City Councilmember Seeks Report on Loss of Affordable Housing Near USC". Urbanize LA. 2020-10-01.
  9. "Fixing City Hall survey: Who supports reducing council members' power over land-use decisions?". Los Angeles Times. 2022-11-02.
  10. City Clerk for the City of Los Angeles: Measure HHH, 29 October 2016
  11. Holland, Gale (May 11, 2019). "L.A. spent $619 million on homelessness last year. Has it made a difference?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  12. "Why is the ethically challenged L.A. City Council obstructing the Ethics Commission?". Los Angeles Times. 2023-08-22.
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