Marqueece Harris-Dawson, a Morehouse College graduate, has officially assumed the Los Angeles City Council Chairman role. The council member, who has represented portions of South Los Angeles since his election in 2015, was sworn in during the Sept. 20 council meeting. He set forth an agenda centered on homelessness and housing affordability—issues that profoundly impact Black and Latino communities.
“When we have a situation where tens of thousands of people are living on our streets, it literally compromises everyone’s public safety,” Harris-Dawson said.
Harris-Dawson has dedicated over two decades to community organizing, notably with the nonprofit Community Coalition, co-founded by Mayor Karen Bass. His firsthand experiences witnessing the repercussions of the crack cocaine epidemic and the 1992 L.A. riots have shaped his commitment to addressing systemic inequalities in his district, which encompasses the West Adams, View Heights, Hyde Park, Van Ness, Baldwin Hills, and Adams-Normandie neighborhoods.
A Proven Leader
Political consultant Dermot Givens praised Harris-Dawson as a natural consensus-builder. Harris-Dawson garnered unanimous support for his leadership position without internal conflict among colleagues. He’s a very nice guy, and he’ll continue that consensus-building as council president,” Givens said.
The council voted 14-0 in May to elevate Harris-Dawson following Paul Krekorian’s tenure who held the position since October 2022. With his deep roots in South Los Angeles, where he grew up before relocating due to gang violence, Harris-Dawson understands the challenges facing his constituents. He previously worked on initiatives related to education and employment.
As council president, he plans to establish a new committee focused on “unarmed response” to traffic stops and explore the potential for unarmed civilian teams to address certain traffic issues. This initiative aligns with ongoing discussions about reforming policing practices in Los Angeles.
Harris-Dawson studied political science and mathematics at Morehouse College. He was a member of the Class of 1995.
