James Harnett

Last updated

James Harnett
Commissioner James Harnett.jpg
Commissioner of the District of Columbia
from District 2A08
Assumed office
March 23, 2018 (2018-03-23)
Preceded byEve Zhurbinskiy [1]
Personal details
Born
James Allen Harnett

(1998-03-23) March 23, 1998 (age 21)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Residence Washington, D.C.
Education George Washington University
Awards Eagle Scout (2016)

James Allen Harnett (born March 23, 1998) is an American politician and student in Washington, D.C., the United States capital. [2] A member of the Democratic Party, he has been a Commissioner in the District of Columbia since March 23, 2018. [3] The district includes parts of Downtown Washington and Foggy Bottom. [4] When he was elected, at age 19, he was notably the youngest elected official in Washington, D.C. [3] [5]

United States Federal republic in North America

The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States or America, is a country comprising 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions. At 3.8 million square miles, the United States is the world's third or fourth largest country by total area and is slightly smaller than the entire continent of Europe's 3.9 million square miles. With a population of more than 327 million people, the U.S. is the third most populous country. The capital is Washington, D.C., and the most populous city is New York City. Forty-eight states and the capital's federal district are contiguous in North America between Canada and Mexico. The State of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east and across the Bering Strait from Russia to the west. The State of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U.S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, stretching across nine official time zones. The extremely diverse geography, climate, and wildlife of the United States make it one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries.

Washington, D.C. Capital of the United States

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington or D.C., is the capital of the United States. Founded after the American Revolution as the seat of government of the newly independent country, Washington was named after George Washington, the first president of the United States and a Founding Father. As the seat of the United States federal government and several international organizations, Washington is an important world political capital. The city is also one of the most visited cities in the world, with more than 20 million tourists annually.

Democratic Party (United States) Major political party in the United States

The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with its rival, the Republican Party. Tracing its heritage back to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison's Democratic-Republican Party, the modern-day Democratic Party was founded around 1828 by supporters of Andrew Jackson, making it the world's oldest active political party.

Contents

Early life and education

Harnett was born on March 23, 1998 on Manhattan island in New York City, New York. His mother is a medical photographer and first-generation Irish-American; his father is a project manager at the ACLU and retired Navy officer from New York. [6] Until age two, Harnett lived in New York City, then moved with his family to Upper Saddle River, New Jersey where he remained until he graduated high school. [6] [7]

Manhattan Borough in New York City and county in New York, United States

Manhattan, often referred to locally as the City, is the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City and its economic and administrative center, cultural identifier, and historical birthplace. The borough is coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state of New York. The borough consists mostly of Manhattan Island, bounded by the Hudson, East, and Harlem rivers; several small adjacent islands; and Marble Hill, a small neighborhood now on the U.S. mainland, physically connected to the Bronx and separated from the rest of Manhattan by the Harlem River. Manhattan Island is divided into three informally bounded components, each aligned with the borough's long axis: Lower, Midtown, and Upper Manhattan.

New York City Largest city in the United States

The City of New York, usually called either New York City (NYC) or simply New York (NY), is the most populous city in the United States. With an estimated 2018 population of 8,398,748 distributed over a land area of about 302.6 square miles (784 km2), New York is also the most densely populated major city in the United States. Located at the southern tip of the state of New York, the city is the center of the New York metropolitan area, the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban landmass and one of the world's most populous megacities, with an estimated 19,979,477 people in its 2018 Metropolitan Statistical Area and 22,679,948 residents in its Combined Statistical Area. A global power city, New York City has been described as the cultural, financial, and media capital of the world, and exerts a significant impact upon commerce, entertainment, research, technology, education, politics, tourism, art, fashion, and sports. The city's fast pace has inspired the term New York minute. Home to the headquarters of the United Nations, New York is an important center for international diplomacy.

New York (state) State of the United States of America

New York is a state in the Northeastern United States. New York was one of the original thirteen colonies that formed the United States. With an estimated 19.54 million residents in 2018, it is the fourth most populous state. In order to distinguish the state from the city with the same name, it is sometimes referred to as New York State.

Harnett attended Northern Highlands Regional High School, graduating in 2016. [7] In high school, he was the focus of an episode of This is Life with Lisa Ling, a CNN original documentary television series, highlighting him as one of the youngest collegiate hackathon participants in the United States. [8] In October 2014, Harnett was a speaker at TEDxTeen in London. [9] He also participated in the Boy Scouts of America, earning the program's highest rank, Eagle Scout. [7]

Northern Highlands Regional High School Allendale, Bergen County, New Jersey, USA

Northern Highlands Regional High School (NHRHS) is a regional public high school and school district in Allendale, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The school serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Saddle River, and Upper Saddle River. Students from Saddle River have the option of attending either Northern Highlands or Ramsey High School, as part of sending/receiving relationships with the two districts.

<i>This Is Life with Lisa Ling</i> television series

This Is Life with Lisa Ling is a CNN original documentary television series produced by Brooklyn-based production company Part2 Pictures and American journalist Lisa Ling, who is also the show’s host. The program was announced on April 14, 2014, and its first season premiered September 28, 2014.

CNN American news channel

Cable News Network (CNN) is an American news-based pay television channel owned by AT&T's WarnerMedia. CNN was founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner as a 24-hour cable news channel. Upon its launch, CNN was the first television channel to provide 24-hour news coverage, and was the first all-news television channel in the United States.

Before the 2016 primaries, Harnett worked as a software developer in Iowa for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. He also interned at the United States Department of Education in the Office of Educational Technology before starting college, where he contributed to research on early learning technology. [10] [11] He attends college at George Washington University, majoring in computer science and political science. [12] [5] He has been a youth advocate and community organizer, pushing students to get more involved in local government. [2] [13] In March 2018, he was elected to local government, making him the youngest elected official in the District. [5] [14] During college, he also worked for the General Services Administration and Run for Something. [15]

The 2016 presidential campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton was announced in a YouTube video, on April 12, 2015. Hillary Clinton was the 67th United States Secretary of State and served during the first term of the Obama administration, 2009 to 2013. She was previously a United States Senator from New York, 2001 to 2009, and is the wife of former President Bill Clinton, serving as First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001.

United States Department of Education United States government department

The United States Department of Education, also referred to as the ED for (the) Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government. It began operating on May 4, 1980, having been created after the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was split into the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services by the Department of Education Organization Act, which President Jimmy Carter signed into law on October 17, 1979.

Office of Educational Technology

The Office of Educational Technology is located in the Office of the Secretary of the United States Department of Education. OET provides leadership for transforming education through the power of technology. OET develops national educational technology policy and advocates for the transition from print-based to digital learning and supports the President's and Secretary’s educational priorities.

Political positions

Harnett introduced a resolution in May 2018 to lower the voting age in D.C. to 16, which was approved 5 to 2. [16] [17] A vote to advance the legislation before the Council of the District of Columbia failed 6 to 7, in November 2018. [18] In July 2018, he wrote an editorial in the Washington Post opposing the repeal of Initiative 77 — a voter-approved minimum wage law to phase out the minimum wage exemption for tipped employees — which was overturned by the city council in October 2018. [19] [20] He also introduced a proposal in November 2018, which was unanimously approved, to change the name of the street at the Saudi Embassy in the United States to "Jamal Khashoggi Way", following the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. [21] [22]

Council of the District of Columbia legislative branch of the local government of the District of Columbia, in the United States

The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the local government of the District of Columbia, in the United States. As permitted in the United States Constitution, the District is not part of any U.S. state and is overseen directly by the federal government.

<i>The Washington Post</i> Daily broadsheet newspaper published in Washington, D.C.

The Washington Post is a major American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., with a particular emphasis on national politics and the federal government. It has the largest circulation in the Washington metropolitan area. Its slogan "Democracy Dies in Darkness" began appearing on its masthead in 2017. Daily broadsheet editions are printed for the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

Initiative 77 was a Washington, D.C. voter-approved ballot initiative to phase out the minimum wage exemption for tipped employees. On June 19, 2018, the measure was passed by a more than 10% margin. In October 2018, the initiative was repealed by the Council of the District of Columbia before it was enacted.

Harnett has been an advocate for more protected bike and pedestrian infrastructure, arguing that the District of Columbia should swiftly build protected streetscapes that prioritize pedestrians over cars. [23] [24] Harnett supports free public transportation. [25] He has also supported climate change and gun control legislation, voting to support a law that mandates drawing 100% of energy from renewable sources by 2032 and eliminating all emissions by 2050, and saying climate change "will kill more of my generation than any other." [26] [27] Harnett considers himself a progressive. [28]

Related Research Articles

George Washington University university in Washington, D.C.

The George Washington University is a private research university in Washington, D.C. It was chartered in 1821 by an act of the United States Congress.

Chevy Chase (Washington, D.C.) Place in the United States

Chevy Chase is a neighborhood in northwest Washington, D.C. It borders Chevy Chase, Maryland, a collection of similarly affluent neighborhoods.

George Washington University Law School law school in Washington, D.C. USA

The George Washington University Law School is the law school of The George Washington University, in Washington, D.C. Founded in the 1820s, GW Law is the oldest law school in the national capital and one of the most prestigious law schools in the country. GW Law has offerings in business and finance law, environmental law, government procurement law, intellectual property law, international comparative law, litigation and dispute resolution, and national security and U.S. foreign relations law.

Phil Mendelson American politician

Philip Heath "Phil" Mendelson is an American politician from Washington, D.C. He is currently the Chair of the Council of the District of Columbia, elected by the Council on June 13, 2012, following the resignation of Council Chair Kwame R. Brown. He was elected to serve the remainder of Brown's term in a citywide special election on November 6, 2012, and re-elected to a full term in 2014 and 2018.

School Without Walls (Washington, D.C.) public high school in Washington DC

School Without Walls High School (SWW) is a small public magnet high school in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It is colloquially referred to by students and faculty as "Walls". The school is based on a concept in urban education that encourages students to "use the city as a classroom", which is the origin of its name.

The GW Hatchet is the student newspaper of the George Washington University. Founded in 1904, the Hatchet is the it is the second-oldest newspaper in Washington, DC, only behind The Washington Post. The Hatchet is often ranked as one of the best college newspapers in the United States and has consistently won awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and from the Associated Collegiate Press. Alumni of the GW Hatchet have included numerous Pulitzer Prize winners, Emmy Award winners, politicians, news anchors, and editors of major publications.

Stephen Joel Trachtenberg American academic

Stephen Joel Trachtenberg was the 15th President of George Washington University, serving from 1988 to 2007. On August 1, 2007, he retired from the presidency and became President Emeritus and University Professor of Public Service.

Jamal Khashoggi Saudi journalist

Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi was a Saudi Arabian dissident, author, columnist for The Washington Post, and a general manager and editor-in-chief of Al-Arab News Channel who was assassinated at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018 by agents of the Saudi government. He also served as editor for the Saudi newspaper Al Watan, turning it into a platform for Saudi progressives.

Randle Highlands human settlement in "Washington, D.C.", District of Columbia, United States of America

Randle Highlands is a neighborhood in Southeast Washington, D.C., east of the Anacostia River.

Muriel Bowser Mayor of the District of Columbia

Muriel Elizabeth Bowser is an American politician serving since 2015 as the eighth mayor of the District of Columbia. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously represented Ward 4 as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia from 2007 to 2015.

The George Washington Colonials football team represented The George Washington University of Washington D.C. in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) major college-level football competition from 1881 to 1966. The team's home field in the final seasons was D.C. Stadium, shared with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League.

Gelman Library main academic library of George Washington University

The Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, more commonly known as Gelman Library, is the main library of The George Washington University, and is located on its Foggy Bottom campus. The Gelman Library, the Eckles Library on the Mount Vernon campus and the Virginia Science and Technology Campus Library in Ashburn comprise the trio known as the George Washington University Libraries. The Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library and the Jacob Burns Law Library also serve the university. The Gelman Library is a member of the Washington Research Library Consortium and the Association of Research Libraries.

George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs

The School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA) at the George Washington University in Washington, DC, a school in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism and political and international communication. The School's director is Frank Sesno, former CNN correspondent, creator of PBS's Planet Forward and professor.

Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C.

The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C. is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's main and largest diplomatic mission to the United States. It is located at 601 New Hampshire Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C., in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, near the Watergate complex, and Kennedy Center.

<i>River Horse</i> (sculpture) artwork

The River Horse is a bronze sculpture of a hippopotamus located on the campus of George Washington University. It is in front of Lisner Auditorium, at 21st Street and H Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C., in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood.

John J. Earley Office and Studio

John J. Earley Office and Studio is a historic home at 2131 G Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C., in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood.

Magnitsky Act bill passed by the U.S. Congress intending to punish Russian officials responsible for the death of Sergei Magnitsky

The Magnitsky Act, formally known as the Russia and Moldova Jackson–Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012, is a bipartisan bill passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama in December 2012, intending to punish Russian officials responsible for the death of Russian tax accountant Sergei Magnitsky in a Moscow prison in 2009.

Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Washington, DC

Comet Ping Pong is a pizzeria, restaurant, and concert venue located at 5037 Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington, D.C.'s Chevy Chase neighborhood. Owned by James Alefantis, Comet has received critical acclaim from The Washington Post,The Washingtonian, New York magazine, the DCist, and Guy Fieri of Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Comet is also noted for its ping-pong tables in the back rooms, as well as for the bands that sometimes perform there.

2018 Washington, D.C. mayoral election

The 2018 Washington, D.C., mayoral election took place on November 6, 2018 to elect the Mayor of the District of Columbia. Incumbent Democrat Muriel Bowser won re-election, becoming the first Mayor to do so for Washington, D.C. since Anthony A. Williams won a second term in 2002.

Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi The Assassination of Saudi journalist, Kashoggi

The assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident, journalist for The Washington Post and former general manager and editor-in-chief of Al-Arab News Channel, occurred on 2 October 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey and was perpetrated by agents of the Saudi Arabian government. The exact cause of his death is unknown since his body has not been located or examined. Government officials of several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, believe Khashoggi was murdered. Turkey in particular believes it was premeditated murder, and anonymous Saudi officials have admitted that agents affiliated with the Saudi government killed him.

References

  1. ↑ Grace, Dani (December 4, 2017). "Senior to step down after two years on local advisory group". The GW Hatchet .
  2. 1 2 Stein, Shira (May 23, 2018). "D.C. college students seek a voice in communities beyond campus". The Washington Post . Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Elections, Board of - Certification of Filling ANC/SMD Vacancies in 2A08 - James Harnett". District of Columbia Register. March 14, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  4. ↑ "ANC 2A Monthly Meeting". District of Columbia Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 "ANC 2A Announces Election of James Harnett for 2A08". Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2A. March 14, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  6. 1 2 Scotti, Andrew (December 2015). "Student James Harnett Interviewed by CNN". The Highland Fling .
  7. 1 2 3 "Eagle Scout completes project in Upper Saddle River". USA Today, North Jersey. May 12, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  8. ↑ Season 3, Episode 5 (October 30, 2016). "Silicon Valley Savants". This Is Life with Lisa Ling .
  9. ↑ Birnbach, Marc (October 11, 2014). "James Harnett at TEDxTeen 2014 London". We Are Family Foundation . Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Office of Educational Technology Alumni". United States Department of Education . Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Early Learning and Educational Technology Policy Brief" (PDF). United States Department of Education and United States Department of Health and Human Services . October 2016.
  12. ↑ Grace, Dani (January 18, 2018). "Sophomore to run uncontested for seat on neighborhood commission". The GW Hatchet . Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  13. ↑ DeGroot, Lia; Duffy, Hux (October 4, 2018). "ANC hosts on-campus town hall to boost student engagement". The GW Hatchet . Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  14. ↑ Grace, Dani (March 15, 2018). "Sophomore officially joins neighborhood governing group". The GW Hatchet . Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Run for Something Team". Run for Something . August 28, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  16. ↑ Grace, Dani (May 21, 2018). "Student commissioner pushes to lower D.C. voting age". The GW Hatchet . Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  17. ↑ Ryals, Mitch (November 1, 2018). "Judiciary Committee Passes Bill to Lower D.C. Voting Age to 16". Washington City Paper . Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  18. ↑ "DC Council holds off on vote to lower city's voting age to 16". WTOP . November 13, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  19. ↑ Harnett, James (July 15, 2018). "The D.C. Council must not usurp voters' will on ballot questions". The Washington Post . Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  20. ↑ Nirappil, Fenit (October 16, 2018). "It's official: D.C. Council has repealed Initiative 77". The Washington Post . Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  21. ↑ Criss, Doug (November 29, 2018). "A DC neighborhood group just voted to rename the street in front of the Saudi embassy for Jamal Khashoggi". CNN . Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  22. ↑ Katong, Andara; Mintz, Lizzie (November 29, 2018). "ANC pushes to rename street outside Saudi embassy to honor Jamal Khashoggi". The GW Hatchet . Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  23. ↑ Kotak, Parth (January 14, 2019). "Two neighborhood officials renounce parking privilege". The GW Hatchet . Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  24. ↑ Stricklin, Lizzie (May 17, 2018). "ANC backs Foggy Bottom bike lane proposal". The GW Hatchet . Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  25. ↑ Harnett, James (December 7, 2018). "Tweet from @jarharnett". Twitter . Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  26. ↑ Katong, Andara; Mintz, Lizzie (November 29, 2018). "ANC passes resolutions promoting health, environment". The GW Hatchet . Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  27. ↑ Harnett, James (March 10, 2019). "Tweet from @jarharnett". Twitter . Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  28. ↑ Lee, Sidney; Stricklin, Lizzie; Giannetti, Leila (November 5, 2018). "Students in local government support Silverman in D.C. Council race". The GW Hatchet . Retrieved December 16, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.