Name | Chi Ossé |
District | 36 |
Campaign@osse2021.com | |
What is your plan for getting the city back to work, particularly in its hardest hit sectors? What kind of workforce development programs do you envision that would provide access to communities of color and people with disabilities? | Getting New Yorkers back to work will require bold steps that begins with understanding how we operate during and after the pandemic. As we transition out of this health crisis and our fiscal outlook becomes clearer, we will have to finally have an honest, transparent conversation about the socio-economic issues plaguing our city. Armed with the federal relief package, the federal infrastructure package, and the recent state tax bill, we do not have to tighten our belts. The impact of COVID has created difficulties that require frugality, but next year has immense potential to stimulate growth: 1) Union job openings and increased apprenticeships. 2) Tech employment, emerging startups and tech support industries., 3) Ancillary services and programs will grow and reemerge to parallel the packages. 4) The President has made an effort to encourage Green Jobs and tech, Brooklyn and NYC are ready! But… We have to prepare ourselves to make this jump. Our City and borough have to be progressive while community thinking. Acknowledging and working to reduce identity based bias in the workplace through legislation such as the Fair Shot Bill, which I advocatfor & work to pass, will reduce bias in the hiring process through the regulation of automated employment tools, industry oversight and Council review.Legislate and budget support agencies committed to expanding access to M/WBE and localized businesses. In office, my priority will be to not only get New Yorkers back to work, but to do it better than we have. The creation of a public bank will lead to another tool to aid in our inevitable investment in a number of areas, chief among them being small businesses. We must assess licensing and permits, specifically the duration it takes to acquire official documents in an effort to allow new businesses to arise in an expeditious manner. Giving out low interest loans, administering grants and rebates for infrastructure upgrades will go a long way for these businesses who are and will be the backbones of our communities. We must partner with community based organizations to create intra-community development and job opportunities for youth, within trade and skill-based industries via the unions or small businesses. This is co-governance at play. This includes working with the DOE to increase the district cap of 24,999 to 40,0000. This will support independent teaching arts and small firms AME We will lobby for the creation of well-paying jobs NYCHA properties that hire from within the community itself. Encouraging better opportunities for our creative community and 1099 employees who throughout the pandemic have kept us fed, given us creative content to alleviate our stress amongst other things. |
What is your plan for creating healthy stable communities? How do you envision enlivening vacant commercial and city owned spaces? | Earlier I discussed the importance of expanding opportunities for teaching artists and small CBOs. That policy point is important: stable income helps to acquire residential and commercial leases. Creating a “manifesto” titled Working Artists to help real estate agents and owners understand how artists are compensated, to reduce the biases both have to non-traditions breadwinners. Build a local, private database of rentals and leases with cooperating CBOs to help match renters with good tenants. ——-Spaces The power of the pop-up and one-offs are vital to artistic growth. Creating partnerships with DCA, cultural institutions and local arts entities to utilize public & private spaces. This includes greens and parks in the district. My office will create programs that invite local artists to share, programs with financial models to support with exposure and funds. The support will come from DCA budgets, CBOs sponsors (like RestorationArts or Richard Beavers Gallery), grant providers and private funders (like TD Bank) with a history of supporting the arts in Central Brooklyn. |
What do you foresee is the role of creative economies in supporting economic recovery in New York City particularly for communities most affected by environmental, housing, and health instability due to COVID including our aging, immigrant, and working class communities of color? | The 36th Council District is a primary home to creatives in New York City. I am one of them. A policy point, and current action point, is having artists & institutions at the table, now. It is not only creating opportunities but first discussing with influencers, artists and stakeholders about possible directions. Second: Utilizing organs and databases like The Freelancers Union to connect creatives with clients and other creatives. Third: Advocating for CBOs, of all types, to look at local talent as providers: from features to headliners to openers. Fourth: We are a community of art institutions, enclaves and incubators. I am their champion! From alto singer to the turntabalist, we must announce opportunities and celebrate victories! |
What is your plan for the city’s school system and what is your vision of the role that arts in education plays? | The Mayor’s office announced on May 6th, 2021 the City Artist Corps. While the details are scarce, the program is investing 25 million dollars in the arts. During this year’s budget crunch, #TeamOsse is going to do the research and calls to influence allocation to CBOs and teaching artists. When elected, I want to make sure 600-800 millions is allocated to co-curricular programming, with an emphasis on STEAM and programs centering the art-based staff. The latter will require conversations and town halls with the district’s school administrators. |
What is your plan to address the health care needs of the city's many communities? | The city needs more health care professionals and more clinics. I support direct investment from the city into opening new clinics in underserved neighborhoods, reducing or eliminating surprise medical bills while ensuring our health insurance premiums include dental, eye-care and mental health care. Lastly, in office I will fight alongside my colleagues in the state legislature to pass the New York Health Act. The bill will create a single payer, government-run health insurance for all New Yorkers. We need to do our part to end the predatory, neo-liberal practices of modern hospitals. It is my belief that New York can be the example. |
What are your plans for supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated New Yorkers? | The current state of mass incarceration must be deconstructed. While working toward that goal, it is essential that incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people are treated with the utmost respect. I support free education in CUNY institutions, which will of course apply to these individuals and help them re-integrate into our communities. Additionally, I am advocate for city-funded work programs to employ & train the formerly incarcerated, as well as counselors to both help with mental health and provide guidance on housing and schooling. There are existing art-driven & trades-based programs the City can support with funding, access to incarceral institutions and community awareness. For example: Youth Action Youth Build is a leader in construction skills training with job placement as a primary feature. Harlem based, Fortune Society is an expert in returning citizens and personal skills building. Not through legislation, but support, I am an advocate for creating a strong network. A network citizens affected by the system can find the tools they need to flourish. |
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