12 Facts About Julia Harrison

Julia Harrison was an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the New York City Council representing Flushing, Queens, from 1986 to 2001.

In 2001, newly enacted term-limit regulations forced Harrison to relinquish her seat.

Julia Harrison was born Julia Hirsch on June 10,1920, in Rochester, New York, the daughter of Henry and Magdalena Hirsch.

In 1952, Julia Hirsch married Joseph Harrison and moved to Flushing, Queens.

Julia Harrison did not become politically active until 1968, when she participated in Eugene McCarthy's presidential campaign.

In 1985, Julia Harrison was elected to represent the 19th district on the New York City Council, becoming the first woman on the Council from the borough of Queens.

However, the city's districts were soon changed and Julia Harrison's became the 20th, covering Flushing and a small part of Whitestone.

Julia Harrison chaired the Standards and Ethics Committee in 1991, and led the Committee on Aging for a number of years.

Julia Harrison's committee was active in other areas, including the investigation of elder abuse; elderly drug abuse; and the state's Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program.

Julia Harrison was the chairperson of the Legislative Panel on Medical Technology.

Julia Harrison used her councilwoman's land-use powers to plan certain areas of her district and acquired city council funds to hire an architect to create a plan for Flushing.

Julia Harrison died on August 3,2017, in Flushing, New York, from stomach cancer, aged 97.