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Gregory Neal Jackson
DC Council At-Large
Opportunity DC's Questionnaire
Opportunity DC advocates for priorities that grow our local economy, make government work better and faster, and make DC a more affordable place to live. We partner with pragmatic leaders to pass
effective legislation and help elect champions capable of leading our city forward.
Our questionnaire project is dedicated to providing DC Voters with the information to make the best decision possible for the District. No answers have been edited for the candidates, except light formatting changes.
Biographical Information
Please share any accomplishments or experiences that reflect your commitment to
advancing Opportunity DC's policy priorities
No response provided
Please share any accomplishments or experiences that reflect your commitment to
advancing Opportunity DC's policy priorities
No response provided
All endorsements to date:
N/A
Previous offices held:
Federal
Deputy Director of White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Special Assistant to President Joe Biden
Coordinator, Gun Violence Emergency Response System
Non-Profit
Executive Director, Community Justice Action Fund
District Government
Director of Mayor’s Office of Community Relations & Services
Communications Director, DC Parks and Recreation
Member, DC Commission on African American Affairs
Member, DC Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Nutrition
Political
National Field Director for Democratic Congressional Campaign
Committee
Co-Chair, DC For Obama
National Field Director, For Our Future
State Field Director (NC), Obama for America
Academic
First Year Council President, University of Virginia
Class Representative, Yale School of Public Health
President, Iota Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Business
Owner, Ownership Matters LLC
Co-Founder, The Wave USA, LLC
Co-Founder, PBF Sports LLC
District Priorities
DC residents tell us their three most important issues are the cost of living, public safety, and jobs and the economy. Please list one legislative or regulatory solution you support to address each policy challenge.
1. Cost of Living - As Councilmember, I will work to provide more incentives and
resources to increase the number of small landlords in the District. Increasing small
landlords both increases our housing supply and helps sustain homeowners struggling
to manage the affordability crisis in our District.
2. Public Safety - As Councilmember, I will work to strengthen the public safety
ecosystem through increased investment in violence prevention measures such as
victim services, community violence intervention, crime intelligence resources and
programs addressing th root causes of violence. This strategy will be coupled with a
larger push for UPSTREAM accountability to go after gun traffickers, gun dealers and
manufacturers that are illegally supplying the weapons used in violent crimes.
3. Jobs & Economy - As Councilmember, I will work to reduce red tape and increase
incentives for small businesses to come to the District. Starting with brick and mortar
businesses, we must look at the best practices nationwide to attract more job
opportunities and businesses to operate in the District BEYOND the government.
Accessible & Affordable Housing
DC’s average housing costs are 140% above the national average. DC laws, rules, and
regulations make building housing here more expensive, time-consuming, and bureaucratic compared to other jurisdictions—creating a scarcity of available housing that drives up rent and home prices. Do you agree that increasing the supply of available housing, including market-rate, will lower the cost of rent and homes for residents over time?
Agree
Zoning and land use policy can restrict where housing is built and the number of units for a specific project. Transit-oriented development—building housing near thoroughfares and public transit—helps local governments plan housing near key services and transportation hubs. Do you support or oppose requiring all areas of the District currently zoned for commercial development to be automatically zoned for high-density residential development?
Support
In 2025, DC lawmakers modernized the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) to make DC a more attractive and viable place to build housing. Building enough housing to address DC’s supply shortage will require local government to revise legislative code and pass regulatory reforms so that DC can compete within our region and across the country for limited capital investment. What 1 – 3 legislative or regulatory proposals do you support to make DC a more attractive place to build both affordable and market-rate housing.
To address DC’s housing shortage, we must make it easier and more predictable to build housing at all income levels while protecting tenants and preserving affordability.
First, I support streamlining the zoning, permitting, and review process. Housing projects in DC
often face long and unpredictable approval timelines that increase costs and discourage investment. Establishing clearer timelines and coordinated agency reviews—especially for projects that include affordable housing or are located near transit—would help DC compete for housing investment.
Second, we should expand by-right housing near transit and commercial corridors. Allowing
more mixed-income housing in areas already served by Metro, jobs, and infrastructure can
increase supply while supporting walkable neighborhoods.
Finally, we must pair development with strong affordability tools, including continued
investments in the Housing Production Trust Fund, strengthening inclusionary zoning, and prioritizing public land for mixed-income housing.
DC cannot solve affordability without building more housing. By reducing barriers and maintaining strong affordability investments, we can create housing opportunities for residents across all eight wards.
Economic Innovation & Workforce Development
In July of 2024, DC lawmakers increased the paid family leave tax (a payroll tax on District employers) from .23% to .75% of total wages. The additional revenue went to offset $2 billion in new general fund expenditures rather than towards expanding paid family leave. The higher payroll tax makes it harder for local employers, especially schools, hospitals, and small businesses, to grow and hire District residents. Do you support or oppose eliminating the 2024 payroll tax increase on DC employers over the next four years?
Support
Currently, all DC small businesses are required to file an annual personal property tax form (FP-31), even if their property assets are below the threshold that would subject their business to the tax. FP-31 is a cumbersome form that forces entrepreneurs to spend hours on compliance for a tax that most businesses are not even subject to. Do you support or oppose B26-0229, The Personal Property Tax Form Simplification Act, which eliminates the requirement for businesses to file personal property tax form (FP-31) if they are below the proposed $325,000 property threshold?
Support
In DC, some workers must obtain occupational licenses from government-appointed boards and pay large fees to work in fields like interior or landscape designer, barber—including hair braiding, cosmetologist, and manicurist, among others. These barriers artificially limit employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for District residents. Do you support or oppose reducing the time and financial requirements necessary to obtain occupational licenses in the fields where licensure is unnecessary and presents no material risks to
consumers?
Support
Efficient & Effective Government
Since 2020, the District’s budget spending has dramatically outpaced new revenue growth. DC will have to spend more efficiently and grow the tax base, without raising tax rates, to sustainably fund core services moving forward. Do you see DC's dramatic budget growth as a challenge that needs to be addressed through increased efficiency while avoiding new taxes on residents and businesses?
Yes
What three strategies would you propose to reduce DC government spending or grow our tax base to ensure long term fiscal stability?
First, we must grow our tax base by revitalizing Downtown and expanding our commercial corridors. With federal office space shrinking, DC should accelerate conversions of underutilized office buildings into housing and mixed-use spaces. More residents Downtown means more small business activity, more property value, and a stronger tax base. We should also support neighborhood commercial corridors with targeted incentives for small businesses and streamlined permitting.
Second, we should pursue smarter, performance-based budgeting. Agencies should be required to demonstrate measurable outcomes for major programs, with regular reviews to identify inefficiencies or duplicative services. Redirecting funds from underperforming
programs toward proven strategies can improve results without simply increasing spending.
Third, we should strengthen workforce participation and entrepreneurship. Expanding workforce development partnerships with local employers, investing in job training tied to growing sectors, and supporting small business formation—particularly in historically underinvested communities—can increase employment, wages, and local tax revenues.
DC’s fiscal stability will come from growing our economy while ensuring government spending is accountable and results-driven. By revitalizing Downtown, modernizing how we budget, and expanding economic opportunity, we can build a stronger and more sustainable tax base for the future.
Over time, DC lawmakers have added more rules, regulations, and fees that increase costs for small businesses, which are often passed onto consumers, raising prices for everyone. Having more information about the unintended consequences from new legislation can help prevent higher costs for entrepreneurs and residents. Do you support or oppose requiring the Council to review economic impact assessments, generated by the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), for all new legislation and regulations that increase regulatory or financial costs for District employers?
Support
Are there any government rules or regulations that should be updated, streamlined, or eliminated to make government more efficient and lower administrative burdens on residents? Please list up to 3 rules/regulations & how you would change them:
1. Permitting and Licensing Processes: DC’s permitting and licensing systems are often slow, fragmented, and difficult for residents and small businesses to
navigate. I support streamlining approvals by creating clearer timelines, better coordination across agencies, and expanding online processing so applicants
can track progress in real time. For routine permits and license renewals, the District should adopt automatic approvals or expedited review when agencies fail
to act within a defined timeframe.
2. Small Business Regulatory Complexity: Starting or operating a small business in DC often requires navigating multiple agencies, duplicative forms, and unclear compliance requirements. I support consolidating applications into a single “one- stop” digital portal that allows entrepreneurs to register, license, and maintain
compliance in one place. We should also review and eliminate duplicative reporting requirements that add administrative burden without improving safety
or accountability.
3. and Development Review Timelines: Housing development in DC is often slowed by lengthy and unpredictable regulatory review processes. Establishing clearer review timelines and improving coordination among zoning, planning, and
permitting agencies would reduce delays and lower costs. Faster and more predictable approvals—especially for projects that include affordable housing or are located near transit—would help DC address its housing shortage while maintaining appropriate oversight.
The same number of officers
Do you support legislation to authorize the Chief of Police to declare dedicated zones with earlier curfews for large groups of young people as needed?
No
Please provide 1 – 3 policies or strategies you support to make residents, workers, and businesses safer in DC.
1. Increased investment in violence prevention programs that work with those most at
risk or most vulnerable to violence, including but not limited to community violence
intervention, survivor and victim supports, hospital violence intervention, cognitive behavioral programs and programs addressing the root causes of violence.
2. Increased upstream accountability measures to stem the flow of illegal guns into the
hands of those most likely to cause harm. This is done through regional gun trafficking strike forces, aggressive actions taken against gun dealers and collaboratively combatting harmful policies that attempt to expedite gun ownership in communities most vulnerable.
3. Strengthening resources and incentives for known deterrent measures from predatory
crimes, i.e. security systems, home fencing, business security equipment, etc.
Quality Education
In 2006, DC had one of the worst performing public school systems in the country. Only 12% of eighth graders were proficient in reading and 8% in math, only 43% of students graduated in five years, and the system was mired in mismanagement. Following the passage of the Public Education Reform Amendment Act (PERAA) of 2007 and enabled by PERAA’s governance reforms, DC tripled proficiency in reading and math and saw the highest rate of post-COVID test score improvement in the country. Do you support or oppose Mayoral control with Council oversight of the District’s public school system, as established by the Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007?
Support
Approximately 48% of DC public school students attend charter schools, which are free, public, and open to all students from all wards. Do you support or oppose funding DC Public School (DCPS) and DC public charter school students at equal levels, weighted by student need, through the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula?
Support
Chronic truancy among DCPS students has increased dramatically in recent years. How do you propose we reduce truancy levels to ensure students receive a quality education?
Reducing truancy requires addressing the root causes of why students miss school, while also strengthening accountability and support systems for families.
1. Early warning and rapid intervention.
2. Address underlying barriers to attendance.
3. Family engagement and accountability.
Improving attendance ultimately means making schools places where students feel supported, safe, and engaged, while ensuring families have the resources needed to keep their children consistently in school.
(Optional) Notes Provided by Candidate