Press Releases

November 13, 2024

The FARE Act Passes Council Vote:

New York: Council Member Chi Ossé’s bill, Intro 360, or the Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act, passed with a supermajority of 42 votes in the New York City Council, today. The bill requires that in rental transactions, the hiring party, whether landlord or tenant, pays the broker fee. Under the old system, tenants were usually required to pay the fee to a broker hired by their landlord, creating unfair and often prohibitive upfront costs to moving into a new home.

The FARE Act’s passage comes after a year and half of work, and its latest iteration includes necessary enforcement and clarification clauses, to ensure New Yorkers are protected from the first day of implementation. It will now be sent to Mayor Eric Adams to sign.

QUOTES

“The system of forced broker fees is an affront to all New Yorkers,” said Council Member Chi Ossé. “Today, we end that system. The victims of the old paradigm are too many to count: Families unable to have another child, because they cannot afford to move into a larger home. Children aging out of their parents homes unable to find a place in their own communities. Victims unable to flee domestic violence. Workers unable to live near their jobs, or in their city at all. Anyone who is hoping to bring their talents and passion to our great city but can’t afford to get through the front door. Today the New York City Council proved it can put the interests of the people first and be an example of good governance. This is a win for our city and for healthy democracy.”

“The FARE Act is a critical step for ensuring fairness and transparency in New York’s housing market. For too long, tenants have been burdened with fees that were never meant to be their responsibility, especially when the landlord is the one that hired the broker,” said Council Member Shaun Abreu. “This bill levels the playing field, making sure that tenants are not unfairly charged for the landlord’s cost of doing business. By requiring clear disclosure of fees and holding violators accountable, we’re protecting renters and making housing more accessible for all New Yorkers. I’m proud to stand behind this important legislation and continue fighting for tenant rights in our city.”

“Today, the City Council took a monumental step toward greater affordability and fairness for renters in New York City with the passage of the FARE Act,” said Council Majority Leader Amanda Farias. “This legislation, spearheaded by Council Member Ossé, prohibits landlords from passing broker fees onto prospective tenants, bringing much-needed economic relief to New Yorkers. For too long, tenants have shouldered excessive costs for services they did not request, adding to the burdens of moving expenses during a housing crisis. The FARE Act aligns our city with the rest of the nation, ensuring transparency and fairness by placing the responsibility of broker fees on the party who actually hires them. This is a victory for over 2 million renters in our city and a crucial step toward achieving a more just and affordable housing market. I applaud Council Member Ossé for his leadership and am proud to have co-sponsored this vital legislation that echoes our Democratic values and the Council’s commitment to fair housing for all New Yorkers.”

“Paying for a service you never asked for is exploitation. Too many renters are unjustly forced to pay for their landlords’ brokers, adding thousands of dollars to an already costly process. Passing the FARE Act will not only end this predatory behavior but keep money in working class people’s pockets. I’m proud to vote for the FARE Act not only as a Council Member, but also as a renter who knows what it feels like to scrape together every last dollar to pay for someone else’s profit. Today, we’re finally consigning broker fees to the dustbin of history – where it belongs.” Council Member Sandy Nurse D-37, Co-Chair of the New York City Council Progressive Caucus

“The FARE Act is a significant piece of pro-tenant legislation that I am proud to co-sponsor,” said Council Member Keith Powers. “With a historically competitive housing market, the cost of rent is a major factor in New York City’s affordability crisis. Broker’s fees, which tenants are compelled to pay when renting new apartments, exacerbate this issue. It is illogical that renters should be required to pay the wages of brokers they didn’t hire, and that don’t work for them. I am thrilled that the FARE Act is crossing the finish line today.”

“The FARE Act is an important victory for tenants all over NYC,” said Council Member Alexa Avilés. “Over half of my neighbors are rent burdened, suffering under the weight of increased housing costs amidst inflation and stagnated wages. This number is worse for our Asian, Black, and Hispanic neighbors, with over 60% being rent burdened. It doesn’t make sense for tenants to be shouldering the cost of a broker their landlord hired. The FARE Act is a first step towards increasing housing affordability in our city, and I congratulate Council Member Ossé.”

“Today, we take an important step toward greater equity and access for New Yorkers by passing Council Member Chi Ossé’s Fare Act,” said Council Member Rita Joseph. “Eliminating broker fees will make renting more affordable and fair, especially for working families who already face high housing costs. For too long, these fees have placed an unfair burden on renters, often creating barriers to finding stable, affordable homes. This bill reflects our commitment to breaking down those barriers and ensuring that every New Yorker, regardless of their income, has a fair chance to secure housing without unnecessary financial obstacles. By removing broker fees, we’re building a city that’s more accessible and equitable for everyone.”

“As Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus and a co-prime sponsor of Intro 360, I’m thrilled that the Council has overwhelmingly voted to pass the FARE Act, the Caucus’ top legislative priority,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “With rents skyrocketing seven times faster than wages, more than half of New Yorkers rent-burdened, and the vacancy rate at an all-time low since the 1960s, it’s becoming harder for New Yorkers to stay in the city they love. By ending forced and unjust broker fees, the FARE Act is a critical step toward housing affordability, tenant protection, and equity for the working people of our city.”

“The upfront cost of moving into a new home in New York City is too damn high,” said Council Member Tiffany Caban. “Today, renters won a long overdue victory against a predatory practice of the real estate industry in New York: being forced to pay for a broker they didn’t even hire. The FARE act will dramatically lower the upfront cost of moving into a new home in the greatest city in the world. This means it will be more affordable for New Yorkers to stay in their communities; for survivors of domestic violence to seek safety; and to prevent New Yorkers from becoming unhoused and unsheltered. The FARE Act is a win for justice and affordability in New York.”

“Today, New York City takes a bold stand for fairness and financial justice in the housing market by passing the FARE Act”, said Council Member Christopher Marte. “This legislation represents a significant step forward for tenants, who for too long have been weighed down by the burden of broker fees they did not choose to incur. The FARE Act will help level the playing field and reduce the upfront costs of housing in our city, allowing more New Yorkers to secure stable homes without unnecessary financial strain. I commend Council Member Ossé for his leadership on this issue and am proud to be a co-sponsor for this critical advancement toward a more equitable New York.”

”The rising cost of living in our city has deterred talent, discouraged young adults looking to establish roots, and pushed out working-class families who once saw New York City as a place for growth and opportunity,” said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa. “Before even receiving a key to a home, the baseline of maintaining stable employment, potential renters are slammed with fee after fee. This money could put food on the table, pay several months of rent, cover moving costs, or pay for childcare. We cannot continue to financially burden New Yorkers trying to make ends meet. I congratulate my colleague Council Member Ossé for identifying an everyday issue he faced and creating a solution for everyone on the same boat,”

“The rising cost of rent in NYC has been exacerbated by broker fees that tenants are required to pay even when it’s the landlord who has retained the broker,” said New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO President Vincent Alvarez. “The resulting upfront costs of moving have made it even more difficult for working New Yorkers to find affordable housing within New York City. Thanks to Councilmember Osse and his colleagues in the City Council, with the passage of the FARE Act we’re one step closer to ensuring that everyday working families are able to live and thrive in New York.”

“For too long, New York’s housing policies have systematically disadvantaged renters, leaving them to face sky high rents and unnecessary fees,” said Annemarie Gray, Executive Director of Open New York. “That changes with the FARE Act, which will protect New York renters from thousands of dollars in broker fees they never asked for. For those struggling the most, these fees represent one more barrier to finding a home, and eliminating them is a major step toward making housing more accessible for everyone.”

“The passage of the FARE Act is a historic victory for tenants across New York City and a powerful testament to the strength of organizing. For too long, renters have been forced to shoulder unfair broker fees, but today we’ve shown that when tenants unite and fight for justice, we win,” said Rob Solano, Executive Director, Churches United for Fair Housing. “We are deeply grateful to the City Council, Speaker Adrienne Adams, and especially Council Member Chi Ossé for their leadership and commitment to housing justice. This is a major step toward a fairer housing system for all New Yorkers.”

“Anyone who has paid 15% of their annual rent in brokers fees for someone to let you in an apartment for 10 minutes knows the practice is nothing more than legalized theft. New Yorkers have been getting ripped off for decades and decades. Now it’s finally coming to an end thanks to Chi Osse and his colleagues in the City Council. From the perspective of a tech investor and business owner in New York City, the more we can do to make it cheaper and easier for talented young people to come here and stay here, the better off we’ll be,” said Bradley Tusk, political strategist, venture capitalist, and Founder of Tusk Philanthropies.

September 10, 2024

Long-Awaited Bedford Avenue Protected Bike Lane Construction Set to Begin:

Brooklyn: The office of Council Member Chi Ossé received official notice from the Department of Transportation today that they are set to begin building the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. The avenue has long been among Brooklyn’s most dangerous for both cyclists and pedestrians, and a protected bike lane will serve to alleviate the risk of commuting via the critical artery.

Council Member Ossé has remained a steadfast advocate for the protected bike lane through years of planning and delays. A cyclist, he has been acutely aware of the dangers inherent to using a bike lane that runs along the edge of such a busy and high-speed thoroughfare, and, at times, even between lanes of traffic.

The Department of Transportation says roadway crews will begin milling the street this week, and that “the entire redesign process along Bedford Avenue” will be “completed by the end of the year.”

“I am thrilled that after years of tireless advocacy from my office and neighborhood supporters, the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane will finally be built,” explained Council Member Ossé. “The entire neighborhood and all who make use of the avenue will benefit. Cyclists will, at last, be free to move through the corridor without fear. Improved safety will naturally encourage far more commuters to choose bicycles over cars, reducing the number of motorists and therefore reducing congestion for all who choose to drive. This is one public policy decision with only winners, and it should be replicated across the city. I want to extend my gratitude to the advocates who never gave up the fight and made this possible. Transportation Alternatives, Knight Ryders, Gateway BID, P.S. 93 students and staff, STooPs, Black Girls Do Bike NYC, Artshack, United 305, Good Co. Bike Club, and so many more: We could not have won this without you.”

June 13, 2024

FARE Act Receives 8 Hours of Rallies and Testimony on Hearing Day:

Intro 360-2024, the Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act, would require that the party that hires a broker pays the broker fee

The day came as the New York City Council Progressive Caucus announced that the bill is their top priority for the 2024-2025 legislative agenda, first reported in Politico

New York: The FARE Act had its hearing in the New York City Council Committee on Consumer and Worker Protections today, where it endured nearly 7 hours of testimony. Hundreds of New Yorkers enthusiastically laid out the case for the bill while conclusively deconstructing the arguments of the well-funded opposition. The hearing followed a rally in City Hall Park attended by supporters including over ten labor unions, dozens of housing justice groups, political strategist Bradley Tusk, and the Working Families Party.

With 33/51 Council Members officially backing the FARE Act, the time has come to vote the bill out of committee for it to receive a full floor vote.

The Progressive Caucus announced that the FARE Act is now its top legislative priority. The ambitious agenda covers housing, workers’ rights, childcare, public safety, immigration, and health — but the FARE Act tops the list given its impact and relevance for all working-class New Yorkers.

“The people have spoken,” said Council Member Chi Ossé. “Now it’s time to pass the FARE Act.”

“Forcing tenants, especially low-income tenants, to pay for a broker they did not hire is backwards and exploitative,” said Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Council Member Sandy Nurse. “Not only does this system guarantee a brokers’ paycheck regardless of the quality of their work and on the tenants’ dime, but it also perpetuates the entrenched power and wealth imbalances plaguing our City. We need to make it easier for people to get an apartment, not harder, and this is why the Progressive Caucus has made the FARE Act its top legislative priority for this year. By shifting broker fees to the entity that hired that broker, we will finally end an immoral practice that perpetuates economic inequality and racialized homelessness.”

“The FARE Act is the Progressive Caucus’s number one legislative priority due to the vast impact it will have on NYC renters,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif, co-Chair of New York City Council Progressive Caucus. “This legislation would be instrumental in breaking down barriers to housing security, which is what our city should be advocating for,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “By transferring the financial burden of broker fees to those engaging with brokers, the FARE Act offers significant relief to low-income families who are disproportionately affected by these exorbitant costs. Passing the Fare Act will make a significant stride towards leveling the playing field in the housing market, where access to a home should not be contingent on one’s financial means.”

“This vital piece of legislation addresses an unfair burden on tenants, who currently bear the cost of broker fees even when the landlord hired the broker” said Council Member Rita Joseph. “By ensuring that the hiring party; whether tenant or landlord—pays these fees, the FARE Act brings much-needed fairness to our rental market. Importantly, it does not restrict brokers from charging for their services; it simply ensures that those who hire them are responsible for the payment. This monumental change will promote a more equitable housing process for all New Yorkers.”

“The FARE Act is a perfect example of how the Progressive Caucus is pushing for common sense legislation that works for the majority of working New Yorkers,” said Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez. “The FARE Act, along with the slate of PC legislative priorities, will make our City a better and more livable place for more than just the richest among us.”

“Working-class New Yorkers are overburdened with costs at every corner. Eviction rates are at a high and housing stock is not meeting demand,” said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, co-vice Chair of the Progressive Caucus. “Those looking to relocate are hit with forced exorbitant fees that benefit brokers with no added benefit to potential tenants. The Progressive Caucus has made the FARE Act its #1 legislative priority — we must find relief for tenants across New York City if we want to reduce rates of homelessness and truly make affordable, stable, and dignified housing a priority.”

“Remember the days when your family all lived on the same block, same building? You had cohesion,” said Council Member Alexa Aviles. “Now families have to break up simply because we cannot afford it. I support the FARE Act because if you hire someone to do a job you should be the one to pay for it. It’s that simple. REBNY knows the system is broken, yet has made no meaningful attempts to fix things. The bad faith signs about rent hikes you see around city hall today are proof of the depths depravity they are willing to go to protect their profit margins at the direct expense of working people. Enough is enough. Let’s pass the FARE Act now.”

“Under the current system, it is nearly impossible to move homes for many New Yorkers due to excessive and predatory broker’s fees,” said Council Member Tiffany Caban. “A comfortable, reliable home is essential to public safety and health. We must ensure that families can stay in New York City and access stable housing without the fear of burning through their life savings. It’s beyond time that we pass the FARE Act to end forced broker fees and move toward a safer, more livable city for all.”

“The FARE Act represents a step toward achieving true consumer equity and transparency in an increasingly ruthless market in our City — housing,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “Passing this bill would more closely align renters’ consumer expectations with those of all other consumer actions we take in our day-to-day life: if you ask or contract for a service, you pay for it; and if you don’t ask or contract for a service, you don’t pay for it. However, that is not the case with broker’s fees. Any system that leaves tenants to foot the bill for a service the landlord or management company contracted is a deeply flawed system. With the FARE Act, we have the opportunity to change that by placing the burden of payment on the party that requested the service — whether the tenant or landlord — period. This is a simple, common sense piece of legislation, and I look forward to working with Council Member Ossé and our colleagues to ensure its passage.”

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June 29, 2023

Council Member Chi Ossé’s Full Statement on the Fiscal Year 2024 Municipal Budget

Today, the Fiscal Year 2024 budget passed the City Council, and will be sent to Mayor Eric Adams to be signed into law. It was less than our people deserve, and I voted ‘No.’

For months, the Council has been forced to build this budget with a mayor negotiating in bad faith. He slashed tens of millions of dollars from vital agencies and services, then offered the restoration of that funding as a bargaining chip to secure wins for his true constituents: corporate interests and the carceral state.

Still, I am proud of some of the significant wins that were able to work into the final $107 billion dollar budget. I want to share some of those successes with you.

After a contentious fight, I am proud to say that the budget will be restoring the $36.2 million that was previously cut from our libraries. The budget also adds $40 million to the Department of Cultural Affairs which will work to support our city’s cultural organizations. As chair of the Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations and the Brooklyn Delegation, I am proud to say that through my advocacy, this budget includes $5 million for systemwide repairs for the Brooklyn Public Library and millions of dollars for cultural institutions across the city.

Additionally, the budget includes almost 2,000 more seats for extended day and year 3K. While this is not the fully funded universal 3K program our city was promised, any expansion of 3K is better than none. We also secured our discretionary funding that we allocated to tackling the root causes of gun violence by investing in social services, economic development, legal services, and youth programs.

Within our district, we secured $1.2 million for the Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s HVAC system – from our allocations, $100,000 to Noel Pointer’s String Music enrichment programs, $50,000 for programming and productions at the Billie Holiday Theatre and $100,000 for Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation’s programs.

I am proud of the wins we secured, and committed to only backing a budget that lives up to what our people deserve. I commit to full transparency with you, and my full energy to securing a city budget of which we can truly be proud.

June 22, 2023

Contact: Elijah Fox

Email: efox@council.nyc.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Council Member Chi Ossé Introduces FARE Act

The Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses Act would require that the party that hires a broker pays the broker fee:

New York: At a full City Council Stated Meeting this afternoon, Council Member Chi Ossé introduced Intro 1105, or the Fairness in Apartment Rentals Act. The FARE Act’s co-prime sponsors are Council Members Shaun Abreu and Oswald Feliz, both of whom worked for years as tenant lawyers prior to entering public office.

Currently, tenants end up paying broker fees when moving into a new rental, even if the landlord hired the broker. This bill will ensure that the hiring party, whether tenant or landlord, pays the broker.

The FARE Act would not restrict broker fees in any way. Brokers would continue to charge for the services they provide.

“This bill is common sense,” said Council Member Chi Ossé. “In every other transaction, the party who hires a service pays for the service. New York is unique among major cities in America in having tenants often paying the fee for a broker’s services. This bill is simple and fair in assigning that cost to whoever sought the service. Also, to address the fear that landlords who pay the fee would simply pass the costs onto tenants: It should be noted that even if some portion of the cost were passed onto tenants as rent, it would be distributed over the course of 12 or 24 months, alleviating the prohibitive upfront costs.”

“Finding an affordable apartment in New York City is a nightmare — and the towering cost of rent is just the beginning,” said Council Member Shaun Abreu. “On top of application fees, the real kicker for prospective renters is the broker fee, which a tenant is often asked to cough up and can be upwards of a month’s rent for a service the landlord sought out. It isn’t fair to ask tenants to assume the costs for a broker they did not hire. If we are serious about empowering tenants, tackling our affordability crisis, and protecting renters across this city, we must be united in defense of the FARE act. I am proud to stand with Council Member Ossé in support of this bill.”

Council Member Ossé’s office remains available for further comment.

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May 22, 2023

Contact: MVutrapongvatana@council.nyc.gov

Lucy@NY4CA.org

MEDIA ADVISORY:

Council Member Chi Ossé and Cultural Institutions Rally for Culture Funding

NEW YORK: Council Member Chi Ossé, Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations, will hold a rally today outside City Hall with the cultural institutions and organizations of New York City. They will be calling for increased public funding for the city’s cultural sector, and in particular, raising the baseline funding for culture and arts in the city budget for the first time in a decade.

What: A rally calling for robust and stable funding for culture in the city budget.

Where: Broadway sidewalk outside City Hall Park

When: Monday May 22, 12:00 P.M. noon.

Who: New York City Council Members, Borough Presidents, and representatives of the following cultural institutions and organizations:

Abrons Arts Center/Henry Street Settlement
Afeni Creative Studios
American Museum of Natural History
Asian American Arts Alliance
BAM
Bronx Museum of the Arts
Bronx Zoo (WCS)
Brooklyn Arts Council
Carnegie Hall
Chen Dance Center
Climate Museum
Dance/NYC
DC37 (municipal workers union)
El Museo del Barrio
Four Freedoms Democratic Club
FRIGID New York theater
Historic Richmond Town
Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning
Lincoln Center
Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center
Museum Hue
Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts
NY, Arts & Democracy
NY Aquarium (WCS)
NY Botanical Garden
NYC Arts in Ed Roundtable
NY City Ballet
New York City Children’s Theater
Peculiar Works Project
Queens Theatre
Queens World Film Festival
Queensboro Dance Festival
Staten Island Arts Council
Staten Island Zoo
The Chocolate Factory Theater
The Metropolitan Museum
TheaterLab

Performances by Tropical Fete drummers, Felipe Beltran dance.

For more information on the performers or cultural speakers, contact lucy@ny4ca.org.

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February 3, 2023

Contact: Elijah Fox

Efox@council.nyc.gov

BED-STUY COMMUNITY LEADERS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS LAUNCH CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE MAGNOLIA TREE EARTH CENTER

Renewed campaign to save the Center includes a GoFundMe campaign and video by local actor / activist Gbenga Akinnnagbe

Photos and videos from the February 2 event are available here.

Brooklyn, NY – Yesterday, community leaders and local officials from Brooklyn and beyond came together to launch a campaign to save the Magnolia Tree Earth Center, a 50-year-old nonprofit that offers environmental, cultural, and community programming in the heart of Bed-Stuy. The Center occupies three landmark brownstone buildings – which, along with the magnificent Magnolia Grandiflora tree in front, were saved by community advocate and environmental activist Hattie Carthan in the 1970’s – that are in urgent need of repairs. The emergency GoFundMe effort re-launched yesterday marks the first step toward revitalizing the Center as a community hub dedicated to social justice, public education, environmental advocacy, and cultural enrichment.

“Saving the Earth Center is a top priority, because the environmental and cultural work of Hattie Carthan cannot be lost; it must be supported and elevated by all of us,” said Wayne Devonish, Chair of the Magnolia Tree Earth Center.

“The Magnolia Tree Earth Center is represents the past and future of Bed-Stuy,” said Council Member Chi Ossé, Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs and in whose district the Center resides. “It’s a community hub, a cultural center, and a bastion of Black environmentalism. The number and gravity of the people who showed up and showed out yesterday for the Center demonstrate just how integral it is to the neighborhood and how important it is that we protect and save it. I call on all who care about the environment, our history, and the City of New York to donate what they can to rescue this beacon at the beating heart of Brooklyn.”

“Magnolia Tree Earth Center embodies the strength and beauty of our city’s Black communities, and carries on the mission Hattie Carthan set out with 50 years ago when she established this visionary, community-led environmental justice organization long before climate change and sustainability dominated the conversation,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “In his economic blueprint for the city, Mayor Adams called for us to identify and preserve ‘culture at risk’ in our communities. Magnolia Tree Earth Center is the perfect example of an essential cultural asset dedicated to public education, engagement, and uplift of an underserved community that we could lose permanently if we don’t work together today to save it. Join us!”

“Born out of love for our environment and the joy of community, the Magnolia Tree Earth Center is an important center of education and culture,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “I’m hopeful that our neighbors, in partnership with the City and State, can come together to ensure Brooklynites and visitors from all over can continue to learn about the nature that surrounds us and advocate for the well-being of our environment.”

The Center needs to raise $300,000 to pay for urgently required repairs to the front facade of all three of the brownstones facing Lafayette Avenue. Currently, the deteriorating state of the Center’s façade poses a risk to public safety. Without securing the funding soon, MTEC could risk losing the buildings. In a historically Black community facing upheaval from gentrification, cost of living increases, and other threats, MTEC represents a Black -founded, -owned, and -led institution whose mission is rooted in social justice, self-determination, and land ownership by and for the Bed-Stuy community.

At Thursday’s event, MTEC board chair Wayne Devonish announced the creation of a GoFundMe to raise funds to save the crumbling facades of the Center’s three historic brownstones. Local resident and Wire actor Gbenga Akinnagbe recorded a video calling for support for MTEC. A new exhibition of work by local artist Musa Hixson was also unveiled in the MTEC’s galleries yesterday as part of the Center’s re-invigorated cultural programming. Once the urgently needed repairs are addressed, MTEC can continue to work with its community coalition on the long-term transformation of the Center into a vibrant hub for ecological education and cultural engagement.

Carthan established the Magnolia Tree Earth Center in 1972 with widespread, grassroots support she built through years of community advocacy. She had led an effort to plant 1,500 trees in the surrounding blocks, and created a paid youth corps to maintain the trees and educate residents about their importance to Bed-Stuy. Carthan then led the successful effort to landmark the Magnolia tree – a majestic Magnolia grandiflora remarkable for its size, age, and ability to grow well beyond its normal climate zone – and three brownstones behind it that form the backbone of the Center. MTEC continues to advance her pioneering vision as an environmental activist, advocate for Black land ownership and self-determination, and community-based coalition building that created a lasting legacy in the area and among the people she dedicated her life to serving.

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December 6, 2022

Contact: Elijah Fox

Email: efox@council.nyc.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Council Member Chi Ossé to Hold Holiday Toy Giveaway at Brower Park

Ossé’s regular Wellness Wednesday food distribution will be moved to Brower Park and followed by a toy giveaway and then the Friends of Brower Park Tree-Lighting:

BROOKLYN: On Wednesday, December 7, Council Member Chi Ossé will be hosting a holiday toy distribution in Brower Park. After several weeks of collecting from individuals and organizations, the office is proud to invite families to come pick up children’s toys for the holidays. A special thanks goes out to the New York City District Council of Carpenters for their large and incredibly generous donation of children’s toys, without which this event would offer far less cheer for the holiday season.

This week’s Wellness Wednesday food and supply distribution, which is ordinarily held at Restoration Plaza, will also be moved to Brower Park and be held directly before the toy distribution. After the distributions have been completed, Friends of Brower Park will begin their tree-lighting ceremony at 5pm, to which everyone is invited.

“I’m so thrilled that this will be how we ring in the holiday season, my first one in office,” Said Council Member Chi Ossé. “I’m deeply grateful to each of our partners for their contributions in both time and resources to bring joy to our neighborhoods this winter, and I can’t wait to hold this special event, rain or shine.”

Wednesday, December 7 Schedule at Brower Park:

3 P.M. – Wellness Wednesday food and resource distribution

4 P.M. – Toy Giveaway

5 P.M. – Friends of Brower Park tree-lighting ceremony.

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October 11, 2022

Contact: Elijah Fox

Email: efox@council.nyc.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Council Member Chi Ossé Launches Comprehensive Gun Violence Initiative for Central Brooklyn: “Planting Our Seeds, Protecting Our Roots.”

The multi-pronged approach will include neighborhood beautification, investment in anti-gun violence programs, and a participatory budgeting cycle focused on building safe, livable neighborhoods:

BROOKLYN: Gun violence is a persistent scourge on central Brooklyn that was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. To confront it, the government needs to take a multi-pronged approach that not only tackles violence as it arises, but addresses its root causes. The Planting Our Seeds, Protecting Our Roots Initiative will combine Participatory Budgeting, neighborhood beautification, NYCHA partnerships, discretionary funding, legislation, and community engagement to achieve healthier and more peaceful neighborhoods. The first component, Participatory Budgeting, is launching this week. The office will release more information on other components of the initiative in coming weeks and months.

Participatory Budgeting

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is the process in which constituents design and vote on proposals for how to spend $1 million of City discretionary funding in their neighborhoods. It is the first point of this year’s neighborhood improvement plan. This year, Ossé’s office will work with neighbors to solicit and design proposals surrounding the theme of tackling violence on our streets. PB funds physical, public infrastructure projects and the community sends in ideas and votes on the projects that get funded. This year, Council Member Ossé will be allocating $1 million for PB and will be funding projects that will curb, mitigate, and address the issue of gun violence in our district.

To kick off our PB cycle, our office will be hosting three information sessions so the community can learn more about PB and how to get involved. The information sessions will be at 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The dates and locations of the information sessions are:

Thursday, October 13^th: Restoration Plaza – 1360 Fulton Street (5^th Floor Event Space)

Monday, October 17^th: Collective Focus Resource Hub – 1046 Broadway

Tuesday, October 18^th: Brooklyn Children’s Museum Theater – 145 Brooklyn Avenue

We would love for you all to help us spread the word and to join us in our participatory budgeting process this year!

Community members should feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns at mvutrapongvatana@council.nyc.gov or 718-919-0740.

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October 11, 2022

Contact: Elijah Fox

Email: efox@council.nyc.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Mayor Adams Signs Council Members Ossé and Powers Narcan Bill into Law

New York: Mayor Eric Adams signed into law a bill today that will provide free overdose prevention medication and training to bars and nightlife establishments across the city. The bill, Intro 0056-2022, which was introduced by Council Member Chi Ossé in February and passed by a supermajority vote in September, becomes law in the midst of a nation-wide addiction and overdose crisis that has wreaked havoc on communities and families. New York City will set a harm reduction standard for the country.

COVID combined with the rising prevalence of fentanyl led to over 100,000 Americans losing their lives to drug overdoses from May 2020 to April 2021, up almost 30% from the previous year. The overdose crisis has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. This steep rise holds true in New York City, with overdose deaths more common than ever — 30.5 per 100,000 NYC residents losing their lives to overdoses in 2020 compared with 21.9 in 2019. Opioid overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S.

Narcan is an opioid overdose reversal medication that can be used by non-medical professionals, as long as instructions for use are followed. It temporarily reverses the effects of opioids, and has no effect in people who are not taking opioids.

Fentanyl test strips have the potential to stop an overdose before it happens by identifying the presence of fentanyl in a substance including injectable drugs, powders, and pills. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is about 50 times as potent as heroin. Dealers often cut it into their supply to lower costs, not letting users know that their supply is tainted. Overdose deaths involving fentanyl have quadrupled in recent years.

“This is an overdue measure that will, simply, save lives,” said Council Member Chi Ossé, Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs. “Each overdose death is a preventable tragedy; we do not accept them here in New York City. I am proud to partner with Council Member Powers in this necessary bill and thrilled to see it become law. New York City became safer today.”

“As overdose deaths hit historic highs in New York City, we must take immediate action to prevent any more tragedies,” said Council Majority Leader Keith Powers. “I’m proud to have partnered with Council Member Ossé on essential legislation that will give New Yorkers’ the tools to protect against overdose. I strongly urge my Council colleagues to pass this bill so we can start saving lives.”

“In New York City, we now lose somebody to an accidental overdose death every four hours,” said Ann-Marie Foster, President and CEO of Phoenix Houses of New York and Long Island. “We lose more people to overdoses than homicide, suicide, and car crashes combined. We won’t beat this massive crisis without including a harm reduction approach, which is why Phoenix Houses of NY/LI has supported and advocated for this historic bill. We’re thrilled to see it pass. Providing Narcan and fentanyl test strips to venues where people are more likely to use substances will save lives, plain and simple.”

“Opioid overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., which means making lifesaving overdose prevention and reversal tools widely available is as important as CPR training,” said Shaun Willis, Director of Recovery Services at Phoenix Houses’ Brooklyn Community Recovery Center. “This is how everyday people can save lives, and we need these tools for free and confidential use in as many places as possible. I’m proud to support this bill and provide training in how to use these tools.”

“Overdose deaths plague our society and that’s why it’s critically important to invest in harm reduction at our city’s social spaces, like bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. By giving the opioid antagonist Narcan to nightlife establishments and providing their employees with training to administer the medication, we can save lives, just like CPR kits can save lives. We praise Council Members Ossé and Powers for their leadership in passing this impactful legislation in the City Council and thank all the bill’s supporters. We encourage Mayor Adams to sign the bill into law, and look forward to working with the Department of Health and Office of Nightlife to support the program,” said Andrew Rigie, executive director, NYC Hospitality Alliance.

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September 14, 2022

Contact: Elijah Fox

Email: efox@council.nyc.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Stop Overdose Deaths! City Council Passes Council Members Chi Ossé and Keith Powers’ Bill to Provide Narcan to City Nightlife Establishments

Intro 0056-2022 passes at the Stated Meeting of the City Council on Thursday, September 14. Chi Ossé is the youngest person to ever pass a bill in the New York City Council.

New York: Thursday, September 14, Council Member Chi Ossé, Council Member Keith Powers’ bill, Intro 0056-2022, passes at today’s Stated Meeting. Under this bill, the Narcan Behind Every Bar program, which provides Narcan for free to nightlife venues across the city, is codified into law. Codifying a program into law ensures permanency of the program and ensures that there will be a budget allocated for it.

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June 16, 2022

Contact: Elijah Fox

Email: efox@council.nyc.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Council Member Chi Ossé Introduces Bill to Increase Sanitation Fines

Intro 544 would create a graduated fine scale to hold large-scale landlords accountable for dumping violations:

NEW YORK: Buildings are responsible for properly containerizing their waste. The system of sanitation fines for improper containerization does not take into account the size of the violator. At the June 16 Stated Meeting of the New York City Council, Council Member Chi Ossé will introduce a bill to adjust fines to correspond with the size of the landlord or management company committing these violations.

“Improper containerization of trash is an issue that plagues my district and a large part of our City,” said Council Member Chi Ossé. “When trash is not properly containerized, especially trash from large apartment complexes, litter is scattered all over the sidewalk. This is not only an aesthetic nuisance – it is unsanitary and attracts rodents. Currently, the penalty for improper waste containerization ranges from $50 to $200 and does not take into account the size of the property. For buildings with management companies and big landlords, this is pocket change, not a lesson learned to deter one from engaging in improper behaviors. To have cleaner and healthier streets, we must make sure that we truly hold bad actors accountable.”

The bill introduced today would impose a graduated sanitation violation based on the number of units in a building and the number of repeat violations. A graduated violation schedule will ensure that violators can be held accountable, that buildings are properly containerizing trash, and streets are free of litter and rodents.

Council colleagues are invited to join Ossé in passing the legislation.

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June 13, 2022

Contact: Elijah Fox

Email: efox@council.nyc.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Council Member Chi Ossé Votes ‘No’ on FY23 Budget

Chi Ossé, Council Member for New York’s 36th District, released the following statement on his vote against the Fiscal Year 2023 Adopted Budget:

After months of good-faith negotiations between the City Council Budget Negotiation Team and Mayor Eric Adams, an agreement was reached on the Adopted Budget. While the $101 billion plan includes much to be happy about, it lets down too many New Yorkers, particularly those in my district of Bedford-Stuyvesant and North Crown Heights. My vote on the budget is ‘No.’

Since the first day of my term in the Council, the most frequent concern brought to my office has been housing. Every day, the pain of the housing crisis is laid bare at our doorstep. Tenants call us in tears, facing eviction from the apartments and houses they have called home for decades. Homeowners come in desperate for help in their uphill battle against the sinister and growing practice of deed theft. Rent is skyrocketing in a city whose people struggle to get by – most have no relief in sight.

And this housing crisis subjects our neighbors to one of the cruelest forms of violence known to New York City: homelessness. And as terrible as our city is at preventing homelessness, we may still be worse at providing solutions for the folks experiencing this daily tragedy. The conditions of our homeless shelters are such that life inside is often miserable; thousands of people choose instead to live on the street.

I am happy with many line items in this budget, including several large items for which our office successfully advocated. However, in sum, it is quite similar to the budgets that have defined New York City government for years. The NYPD – which receives over $11 billion of our tax dollars each year – continues to be among our least efficient guarantors of public safety. By continuing to devote our money to the police, we deprive ourselves of billions of dollars that could be invested into our schools, parks, and housing – areas in which increased government spending has a proven correlation to public safety.

Funding for our most essential departments remains largely flat. An unchanged funding level means unchanged circumstances – a reality that is wholly unacceptable to my constituents struggling to pay rent, afford medical care, and even eat.

Ours is a deeply unequal city, with neighborhoods like mine trapped in generational afflictions. I am convinced that this Adopted Budget would be a commitment to only march forward, slowly. It places our faith in incremental progress while setting our sights on some distant date to declare victory and liberation.

My constituents need more. They need fundamental change, in both how our city is funded and in how it is structured: Poverty, hunger, homelessness, maternal morbidity, early death – these are not inevitable consequences of the system in which we choose to live. They are tumors of the cancer we are able to cure.

I understand that this budget will pass. I applaud and respect my colleagues whose tireless work achieved an agreement to be proud of. I vote ‘no’ as a reminder of why we ran for office, how much more we can do for our people, and what I owe my own constituent-neighbors, who have been failed by incremental change for too long.

Justice delayed is justice denied. I sought this office in pursuit of justice for New York, for Brooklyn, for Black life. And I was elected to see it delivered.

I was elected to be one of 51 and to represent the 36th district of that 51. Thus, 51 members get to voice the efficacy of this budget for their residence districts. This budget does not reflect the best for Bed-Stuy and Northern Crown Heights. I look forward to continuing to work and fight on behalf of my constituent-neighbors, and for a City budget that recognizes and meets the needs of poor and working class New York.

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May 18, 2022

Contact: Elijah Fox

Email: efox@council.nyc.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Council Member Chi Ossé and NYC Culturals Hold Rally for Cultural Funding

Chi Ossé, Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, joins New York City’s cultural institutions and organizations in calling for funding the Culture VIBE Plan in FY23

NEW YORK: On Thursday, May 19, Council Member Chi Ossé will host a rally on the steps of City Hall for increased funding to New York City cultural institutions and groups. Joined by representatives of cultural organizations from around the city, he calls for passing the Culture Visionary Investment in Building the NYC Economy (VIBE) Plan.

The $100 million plan would provide:

$50 million in baseline funding for Cultural Institution Group members (CIGs) and the Cultural Development Fund (CDF).
$45 million in grants for five strategic initiatives
- $15 million for a Cultural Equity Fund to support BIPOC-led and -serving organizations
- $10 million for tourism and marketing for culture across the five boroughs
- $5 million for accessibility and inclusion of the deaf and disabled
- $5 million for individual artists and renewal of the City Artists corps program
$5 million to increase staffing at the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) for the agency to provide efficient and timely support to the field.

“New York became the greatest city in the world by accident, an amalgam of the world’s best immigrating to a new place and bringing with them the cultures and communities that became the cornerstones and building blocks of this metropolis,” New York City Council Cultural Affairs Committee Chair Chi Ossé said. “But we retain our position atop the podium with bold intentionality, recognizing what makes us who we are and investing accordingly. This plan is good economics and good government. It’s how we will retain our place as the cultural capital of the world.

“There has been a systemic, persistent, and cumulatively damaging underinvestment and disinvestment in BIPOC-led and serving arts groups,” explained Lisa J. Gold, Executive Director of the Asian American Arts Alliance. “Our organizations are deeply embedded in our communities, and we often provide more than just arts programming—we serve as food banks, vaccination centers, career counselors; we protect our communities by providing mental health resources and so much more. The Cultural Equity Fund is critical to ensuring the future of BIPOC organizations and our innumerable contributions to New York City’s economy, welfare, and reputation as a world leader in arts and culture.

“One of New York City’s most valuable resources is its vibrant arts and culture scene,” said Council Member Sandra Ung. “It is not only one of the primary reasons that tens of millions of people visit the city every year, but our arts and cultural organizations also educate, enlighten and inspire the 8 million people who call the five boroughs home. My district alone is home to numerous cultural institutions that are so important to the vibrancy of Flushing. I am committed to working with Council Member Chi Ossé and my other colleagues in the City Council to ensure that they, as well as all of the great cultural institutions across the city, get the support they deserve.”

“Ensuring our cultural programs are well-funded guarantees fundamental opportunities for BIPOC communities,” said Council Member Farah Louis. “By increasing DCLA staffing, who reflect all of New York City, we are putting New Yorkers first. We are creating advocates for the arts: from fine arts to commercial to alternative to underground. Prioritizing investment and robust funding for our cultural institutions, we are preserving the invaluable experiences available in New York City, for all New Yorkers.”

The Clemente stands firmly with Councilmember Chi Ossé and the cultural community in calling for a $100 million fund for arts and culture,” said Libertad Guerra, Executive Director of The Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center. “Our artistic and cultural communities are much more than an economic engine: they are direly needed after this prolonged period of loss and suffering. They are a lifesaver.

The arts and culture scene accounts for 13 percent of New York City’s economy but receives closer to 1 percent of City Funding. As the City Council Committee on Cultural Affairs moves to rectify this discrepancy, they have the full backing of New York’s cultural community.

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March 10, 2022

Contact: Elijah Fox

Email: efox@council.nyc.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY:

Council Member Chi Ossé’s Office to Host Bike Day

WHAT: The Council Member’s officer will host Bike Day, an event in which folks are invited to cycle around the district, visiting local businesses, greenspaces, and workshops. We will be promoting the use of bicycles as the fastest and cleanest way to get around and interact with our neighborhoods. Folks of all ages from all around Central Brooklyn are encouraged to join us for these few hours of pro-environment, pro-transit, and pro-small business fun!

WHEN: Saturday, May 14, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

WHERE: Starting at Restoration Plaza

Those interested in attending should RSVP at Bit.ly/Ossebikeday

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February 28, 2022

Contact: Elijah Fox

Email: efox@council.nyc.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Longtime Resident-Owners of Park Place Home Score Win in Court

The family that has lived in the home since 1951 has successfully defended their right to stay in their home, pending further litigation

Brooklyn, NY: A Brooklyn family, subjected to the alleged crime of deed theft in 2015, has won a major battle in the ongoing fight to maintain possession of their family home. The Robinsons, whose original owner, her daughter, and her granddaughter all share the Park Place townhouse, had suffered a successfully-executed illegal eviction. Tenant organizers, including from the Crown Heights Tenants Union and Brooklyn Eviction Defense, stepped up to protect the family. They then called New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé, whose Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights district encompasses the home. The Councilmember stood in solidarity with the family and solicited support from Attorney General Letitia James. Together, activists and elected officials won the family their rightful day in court.

On the morning of February 28th, 2022, over six years after the family lost possession of the deed, the Robinsons’ legal possession of the home was restored. As the fight for ownership of the deed continues to be litigated and will likely reach the New York Supreme Court, the family that has lived in the house for over 70 years has won the right to remain.

“My entry point to politics was through activism,” City Councilmember Chi Ossé explains. “The goal was always to meld the institutional power of government with the tidal strength of movements to achieve results for the people. Today, we proved the potency of such joint action. I commend the Crown Heights Tenants Union for their tireless, months-long organizing, and thank the Attorney General for her partnership. The first Black Family on this Brooklyn block, three generations later, can continue to stand their ground.”

Those who believe they have experienced deed theft are encouraged to contact the OAG by calling the office’s help line at 1-800-771-7755, emailing deedtheft@ag.ny.gov, or filling out the online complaint form.

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February 24, 2022

Contact: Elijah Fox

Email: efox@council.nyc.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City Councilmembers Chi Ossé and Keith Powers Introduce Legislation to Provide Drug Overdose Kits to Nightlife Establishments

Rather than stigmatize and criminalize, the bill takes an evidence-based approach to saving lives

At the February 24th Stated Meeting of the New York City Council, Councilmembers Ossé and Powers are introducing harm-reduction legislation to improve the safety of nightlife establishments. The bill would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to create the Nightlife Opioid Antagonist Program to help prevent opioid overdoses in nightlife establishments. Establishments will be able to request and retain up to 10 free doses of an opioid antagonist at a time, to keep on premises for administration to patrons, staff or individuals on the premises experiencing an opioid overdose. This bill would also require DOHMH to offer free resources and training to staff of participating nightlife establishments on the administration of opioid antagonists.

This legislation comes following a dramatic rise in overdose deaths, and targets spaces in which government assistance can be most impactful.

Quotes

“Drug use and overdose deaths have been on the rise in our country and city for a long time now, and we must confront the root causes,” explained Councilmember Ossé. “But right now we have a problem on our hands and a common-sense solution right in front of us. This bill will save lives and make our city safer, with no downside. It should be swiftly passed.”

“Overdose deaths are on the rise in New York City, in part due to deadly substances like fentanyl and heroin that permeate our city’s clubs and bars,” said Council Member Keith Powers. “This important, life saving legislation will create a program to provide bars and restaurants with the tools they need to protect New Yorkers against preventable overdoses. Too many New Yorkers have lost their lives—it’s time our city took action.”

“When you run a bar or club you need to be prepared for anything, and that’s why we’re proud to stand with Council Members Keith Powers and Chi Ossé to support their legislation that will provide these businesses with free naloxone rescue kits to ensure they have the tools needed to help treat a narcotic overdose should such an unfortunate situation occur,” said Andrew Rigie, Executive Director, NYC Hospitality Alliance, and Chairperson of the NYC Nightlife Advisory Board. “Our city’s nightlife is where New Yorkers and visitors celebrate life, but equip with naloxone, we can also help save a life too.”

“Opioid overdoses are the leading cause of accidental deaths in New York City,” said Arelia Taveras, President, NYS Latino Restaurant Bar & Lounge Association. “While we work to address the root cause of this epidemic, it is vital to provide businesses access to this life saving measure. We want to thank Majority Leader Powers and Council Member Osse for taking steps to ensure businesses have the resources they need if a worst case scenario presents itself.”

“As we battle a growing overdose epidemic, it’s crucial that Narcan is made readily available across the city, especially in nightlife spaces where people are more likely to use substances. Opioid overdoses kill more people each year than car crashes and gun violence combined. This is a public health issue as much as it is a racial justice issue: Black New Yorkers and residents of very high poverty neighborhoods, including in Central Brooklyn where Brooklyn Community Recovery Center is located, see the highest rates of overdose deaths. This law will get free doses of life-saving medicine into the areas where they are needed. Brooklyn Community Recovery Center of Phoenix Houses is proud to support this bill, which will help to advance healthcare equity, decrease stigma associated with substance use, and save lives,” said Shaun Willis, Director of Recovery Services and Community Outreach at Brooklyn Community Recovery Center.

“We are pleased to see Majority Leader Keith Powers and Council Member Chi Ossé head an initiative to address the safety needs faced by the audiences that attend our venues,” said Jen Lyon, Co-Chair, NY Independent Venue Association Board of Directors. “Our members work tirelessly to provide safe environments and endeavor to pivot as our audiences exhibit new needs. This Legislation is a clear sign that as a community we are all engaging in active, preventative thinking that can save lives.”

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February 21, 2022

Contact: Elijah Fox

Email: efox@council.nyc.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City Council LGBTQ Caucus Speaks Out Against Homophobic Mayoral Appointments

The Caucus released the following joint statement in response to a series of mayoral appointments of individuals with anti-gay histories

New York City went to the polls in November to elect a government among the most diverse in history. The people have spoken: inclusion, dignity, and justice are clear shared values. Unfortunately, a number of Mayor Adams’ new appointments are steps in the opposite direction.

Among these is Erick Salgado, who was picked to be the assistant commissioner of outreach at the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Salgado has marched with former State Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. in a rally against marriage equality, and was endorsed in his mayoral run by the homophobic National Organization of Marriage.

Perhaps most egregious is the consideration of former City Councilmember Fernando Cabrera for any role in our government. Cabrera has a history of homophobic positions and remarks. However he took his bigotry much further, to a degree that is both painful and shocking, especially in the 21st Century. Following Uganda’s passage of the infamous law imposing life sentences in prison for homosexuality, Mr. Cabrera traveled to the country to praise the law, as well as the country’s other ferociously bigotted policies. The man is a bigot; his use of his platform to promote his views has been dangerous. His appointment to a taxpayer-funded position is an affront to us as individuals and as a caucus, and would be an insult to LGBTQ+ New Yorkers.

We, the LGBTQ Caucus, stand firmly against these appointments. Our democratic government should represent the people, and its officers should be individuals on whom all New Yorkers can rely. Our city is home to plenty of qualified potential candidates for these roles. We call on the Mayor to make selections with positions and histories we can all support.

We welcome an opportunity to discuss our concerns and alternative appointments for these roles in the new administration.

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January 20th, 2022

Press Contact: Elijah Fox

Email: ElijahFoxD36@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Council member Ossé to Chair Cultural Affairs Committee

Council member Chi Ossé will chair the Committee on Cultural Affairs,

Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations. He will also sit on the committees on Consumer and worker protection, Finance, General welfare, Public housing, Sanitation and solid waste management

Brooklyn, NY: The Committee assignments for the 2022 City Council were announced today. Council member Chi Ossé will chair the Committee on Cultural Affairs,

Libraries. In this role, Mr. Ossé intends to fast-track the safe revival of New York’s cultural scene, especially the small businesses in the service industry that have suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic fallout.

The committee oversees New York City’s Art Commission, museums, branch libraries, the New York City Commission for the United Nations, the Consular Corps and Protocol, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Mayor’s Office of Special Projects and Community Events, as well as local efforts to promote the City’s community harmony, cultural legacy, and international exchange, according to the Council’s official description.

“I’m thrilled to be chairing this committee. I have spent my life immersed in the New York culture scene. My father was an attorney in the music industry; my mother combines art and culture every day at her bakery, and I have worked many nightlife jobs in nightlife before running for office.,” Mr. Ossé says. “Beyond being an area of personal significance to me, our cultural strength is what makes New York stand out on the global stage. The 36th District is a vibrant cultural hub and home to countless actors, artists, musicians, and some of the best restaurants in the City. I look forward to working with my colleagues to revive and advance our arts and culture scene.” About his other committee assignments, he continues, “these are the reasons I ran for office in the first place: clean streets, dignified NYCHA, standing up for working families. I’m proud to take on these roles and ready to get to work.”

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January 11th, 2022

Press Contact: Elijah Fox

Email: ElijahFoxD36@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Councilmember Ossé Launches Participatory Budgeting for 2022

Residents of District 36, Bed-Stuy and N. Crown Heights, will have the opportunity to decide how to spend a portion of the city budget, right in their own neighborhoods

Brooklyn, NY: Participatory budgeting is back in the new year. Each City Council district has the opportunity to craft proposals for how to spend a portion of the city budget on projects designed and planned by community members. This year, residents of Bed-Stuy and North Crown Heights will have $1 million at their disposal to improve the physical infrastructure of their neighborhoods.

Councilmember Chi Ossé has issued a call for his constituents to design and submit plans for participatory budgeting projects by the January 23 deadline. Projects must be a direct addition to or investment in physical infrastructure, such as improvements to playgrounds and libraries or the construction of drinking fountains.

Proposals will be presented to the district this coming spring for a voting period, during which all residents aged 11 and up will be able to cast votes. The winning projects will receive a portion of the $1 million participatory budget allocation, and its stakeholders will be able to work in tandem with city agencies and the councilmember’s office on implementation.

Beyond submitting proposals, community members are invited to get involved. Anyone interested in joining the volunteer team to help our office with the evaluation and voting processes can sign up at www.participate.nyc.gov or reach out to May Vutrapongvatana – district36@council.nyc.gov. More info can be found at https://www.participate.nyc.gov/processes/ccdistrict36.

“No one knows your streets, schools, and parks better than you do,” Ossé explains. “Let’s take advantage of direct democracy to build what we know we need, right here at home.”

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