Dave Harshbarger, 6th Ward
[email protected]
Q1. There have been proposals put forward to create a Civilian Review Board for the Morgantown City Police. Please share your thoughts on this ordinance, or a civilian police review board in Morgantown.
I very much support this concept and feel it is a wonderful opportunity to build a collaborative process and connection between those that may feel historically marginalized and in general all our citizens of Morgantown and the MPD. However knowing as it stand now, we have been threatened with a law suit by the WV Attorney General and the WV FOP. I would like to work our board working on this to continue to work with our Police Chief, City Manager and City Attorney to come up with an ordinance that we feel we have a strong case to defend.
Q2. In the past year, the city has been engaged in conversations about housing insecurity and houselessness, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. How would you like to see the city address houselessness in Morgantown?
Keep the focus on “housing first” and work with the social service agencies and the Ramada Inn project to find the resources for this solution.
Q3. People experiencing houselessness sometimes set up encampments on personal or public property. These can provide a community and stability but have also created concerns about safety and sanitation. How do you think Morgantown should approach encampments like these?
If a group wants to create a campground, has the land, and works with the Mon Co. Health Dept. to appropriately provide sanitation, I would support. I don’t feel that transitional or “permanent camping is the appropriate solution for those in need or the surrounding home owners/renters.
Q4. The Center for Disease Control advocates for needs-based syringe programs (providing access to the number of syringes needed “to ensure that a new, sterile syringe is available for each injection” with no restrictions including returning used syringes) as the best practice to reduce new HIV and viral hepatitis infections. These evidence-based programs that follow suggested best practices have been controversial in West Virginia and under attack at both the state and local level. If elected to city council how would you view syringe distribution programs?
I would like to hear from Health Rite and Infectious disease experts on thoughts as to the current state of a harm reduction program (needle give away) versus a needle exchange program. I fully support and encourage providing the needed social services in either program and would defer to the above input from Health Rite and Infectious experts on what is best for everyone.
Q5. In 2017, Morgantown passed a Non-Discrimination Ordinance to include protections “against discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations on account of actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, familial status, or veteran status.” Do you support that NDO? Why or why not?
Discrimination in any form is a violation of basic human rights in my opinion.
Q6. In 2020, the Morgantown City Council passed a cannabis decriminalization ordinance, lowering the misdemeanor crime of possession of less than 15 grams in city limits to a $15 fine and no jail time. What are your views on cannabis and decriminalization of drugs for personal use?
I voted for this option for officers to have when finding someone with a small amount of cannabis.
Q7. This year, a resolution was passed in support of the Crown Act and council members have spoken about their commitment to put this into law in the form of a municipal ordinance. Will you support this effort to prevent discrimination on the basis of traits commonly associated with race like hair texture and protective hair styles? Why or why not?
Same answer as above, any form of discrimination is a violation of basic human rights.
Q8. Many WV municipalities have passed ordinances allowing cities to force abatement measures on ‘nuisance properties’ where there are multiple instances of suspected crimes. Proponents say this can help crack down on drug activity and predatory landlords. Opponents say this can create due process concerns and discourage calls to the police when help is needed. What is your opinion of these ‘drug house’ ordinances?
I support us passing this ordinance once we are through a state of emergency due to Covid. This is a problem in particular in neighborhoods that want to see their neighborhoods be a safe welcoming part of the City and encourage investment and growth.