NYC Council District 36 Race: Chi Ossé Seeks Brooklyn Seat

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — Voters in New York City's 36th Council District — which extends over Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights — will see five names on their ballots when they vote in the June 22 primary election.

One of those names will be Chi Ossé, an activist and co-founder of the Brooklyn organization Warriors in the Garden, a youth-led collective at the forefront of the revitalization of the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Patch reached out to all candidates in the election to create these profiles. Ossé's responses are below:

Age (as of Election Day)

23

Position Sought

New York City City Council District 36

Party Affiliation

Democratic, Working Families Party

Neighborhood of residence

Crown Heights

Family

Akim (mother)
Chuma (Brother)
Kai (Brother)
Kara (Sister)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Chapman University

Occupation

Freelance Creative/DJ / Three years
Activist / two years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

https://osse2021.com/

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for City Council because there are problems that need fixing, and I see myself as someone that can help. I am running because Black, Brown & vulnerable lives matter.
I jumped into this race after protesting and experiencing the over-aggression exhibited by the NYPD. I realized that the City Council was a major key to fixing law enforcement. Black Lives Matter goes beyond law enforcement killing and criminalizing Black people. My communities have been redlined into districts where healthy foods, fair-priced housing units, and safe environments are inaccessible.

As a native to Central Brooklyn, I have plans to enact real change to help the district and City.
I am running for public office because our current electeds are not completing the work that/ needs to be done for all the people of NYC. Police brutality and militarization is at an all time high; small businesses are suffering immensely due to the pandemic our workers are under attack, and our climate (both globally and locally) is suffering.

I recognize everyone writes or says all of these statements. That is why we are running to make change now while running for the office. Action over promises.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Sanitation. Our Sanitation Department was severely defunded and our rat problem has exploded. In office, I am committed to clean streets and a fully funded Department of Sanitation that resembles the 2019 budget or higher. Clean streets in Central Brooklyn really means clean and rodent free.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I bring a new and necessary energy to this race. While many candidates have been around for a long time, they have often been contributors to a system that moves l too slowly, backwards or not at allowing . One of my competitors does not live in this district — he even ran for City Council in the previous election for the seat of the district he actually lives in.

I grew up in this district, watched how the status quo affected its residents — my neighbors — and worked more than any other candidate on the front lines throughout the pandemic to serve my neighbors. I will continue to serve my neighbors up until election day, as well as every day once in office.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

Positives:
Helped to create open streets for small eateries
Food justice
Promoted safe practices based on available science
Negatives:
Not using 21st century tools to inform and could not reach all demographics in the district
(We reached tens of thousands for testing and vaccination sites)
Not helping tenants with rent and utilities debt
(We used the power of social media to inform locals about available options for debt relief and our Constituent service team reached out to tenants )

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Affordable housing. Our district is attractive to people from all over, thanks to our rich culture, delicious foods, beautiful streets and, of course, incredible people. An influx of people, however, paired with the greed of many large landlords and developers, is squeezing our residents. I believe it is the responsibility of the City Council to address affordable housing.

Education. Our schools are underfunded and segregated and the outcomes for students are in dire need of improvement. I am committed to education equity and excellence, through fully funding our schools, from pre-K to a college education at CUNY. We will incentivize more teachers into the workforce, bring more counselors into our schools, expand co-curricular workshops (including pushing for a high pay ceiling for small CBOs) and give the rising generation the recognition it deserves: as a top priority.

Public safety. Too often, the police fail to keep us safe and abuse Black and brown New Yorkers. I believe that for the jobs police are necessary for, they should be adequately trained and supported. For the jobs they are not necessary for, the city must fund new institutions, such as mental health professionals, to handle these situations. The current Police Reform slate is a good example of our protests, the work of backroom negotiations and the Council being pressured to make change. I am glad to have worked in the streets and the Council floor for this change.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

1. Organizing protests and programs to fight police misconduct
2. Using the power of protest to help defeat 50a
3. Worked the phones and back rooms with City Council Members for women’s rights
4. Have fought for bills and language on behalf of tenant & block associations in City Council as well as fighting predatory development

Read More:

• Brooklyn District 36 City Council Race: Where Things Stand