Marqueece Harris-Dawson, a three-term LA City Council member (District 8), took office as City Council President on September 20.
The Los Angeles City Council President, who leads 15 council members in the nation’s second-largest city, holds the second-highest position in city government, wielding significant power and responsibility.
Harris-Dawson, who has worked alongside Mayor Karen Bass at the Community Coalition, a South Central service organization, was first elected to represent District 8 in 2015 and secured his third term in the March primary election this year with a majority vote.
Last year, Harris-Dawson garnered attention from the Korean American community for his instrumental role in preserving the Young Korean Academy (Hung Sa Dahn) building as a historic landmark within his district.
In an interview at City Hall on September 17, Harris-Dawson expressed his gratitude to both the Korean American community and the residents of his district, stating that he is honored to take on this critical role.
“As City Council President, the most important task during these challenging times is to further reduce the number of homeless individuals and create safer streets,” Harris-Dawson said. “It takes patience and effort, but with homelessness decreasing by 10% last year, we are seeing other issues begin to resolve as well.”
When asked whether there could be any tensions between his office and the mayor’s office, given his close ties to Mayor Bass, Harris-Dawson responded, “I wouldn’t call it ‘tension’; it’s more of a ‘distinction.’ Mayor Bass and I have had many disagreements and debates, but we’ve also reached resolutions together. I believe we can continue to have productive discussions and work through any challenges.”
Harris-Dawson also addressed the recent fatal shooting of Yong Yang, a case that has become a significant concern for the Korean American community.
“It was a tragic incident that should never have occurred,” he said. “If there’s a problem with the system, the City Council must step in to correct and improve it.”
Regarding the possible expansion of the City Council, Harris-Dawson emphasized that public opinion would be prioritized, as a proposal has already been introduced.
“I believe there is a high chance that the City Council expansion will pass in the November vote,” Harris-Dawson said. “Once it passes, a committee will be formed to study the redistricting, costs, personnel allocation, and other logistics, and a final vote from the public will be held in 2026.”
Harris-Dawson also shared that he traveled to Paris this past summer to prepare for the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics.
“We aim to host an efficient and practical event with a highly effective transportation system,” he explained. “There will be no new building constructions, so there won’t be significant expenses, and we will minimize the use of vehicles for transporting athletes.”
He added, “I will make sure that local communities, including Koreatown, shine on the global stage during this world-class sports event.”
The LA City Council President is elected every four years at the start of a new session.
BY BRIAN CHOI ichoi@koreadaily.com
