Chi Ossé Explained

Chi Ossé
Office:Member of the New York City Council
from the 36th district
Term Start:January 1, 2022
Predecessor:Robert Cornegy
Birth Date:18 March 1998
Birth Place:New York City, New York, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Relatives:Combat Jack (father)
Education:Chapman University (did not finish)
Website:

Chi A. Ossé (born March 18, 1998)[1] is an American politician and activist from New York City who serves as a member of the New York City Council for the 36th district, based largely in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant, and some of northern Crown Heights.[2]

Early life and education

Ossé was born of Black and Chinese ancestry[3] and raised in Brooklyn, where his family has lived for three generations.[4] His father, hip hop attorney and journalist Reggie Ossé–better known as Combat Jack–died from cancer in 2017, when Ossé was 19.[5] Ossé graduated from Friends Seminary in 2016[6] and attended but did not graduate from Chapman University in Orange, California.[7]

Career

Ossé worked for several years in the entertainment industry.[7] In May 2020, amid nationwide protests over the murder of George Floyd, Ossé became a prominent Black Lives Matter organizer and co-founded the activist collective Warriors in the Garden.[8]

2021 City Council campaign

On Juneteenth 2020, Ossé announced his 2021 campaign to succeed term-limited Councilman Robert Cornegy in the 36th district of the New York City Council.[9] Ossé, who acknowledged that he knew little about city government before the protests of spring 2020, cited police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement as the impetus for his campaign, and charged that the City Council and Mayor Bill de Blasio had not done enough to reshape policing in the city.[10] [11]

With endorsements from the Working Families Party and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Courage to Change PAC, Ossé was seen as the furthest-left candidate in a field that also included district leader Henry Butler, local political operative Tahirah Moore, and pastor Robert Waterman.[12] [13] His campaign also found an unusual niche due to Ossé's youth and personal style, with many non-political publications interviewing Ossé and running profiles of his campaign.[14] [15] [16]

On election night on June 22, Ossé led the field with 37 percent of the vote; when absentee ballots and ranked-choice votes were counted, he defeated Butler 57-43%.[17] [18] His victory, and the size of his margin, was seen as a considerable upset, given his opponents' more traditional political backgrounds and endorsements.[19] Ossé faced minimal opposition in the November general election, and won easily, becoming the council's youngest ever member.[20]

Personal life

Ossé's father was Reginald Ossé, a Haitian-American hip hop music attorney, executive, journalist, editor and podcaster. His mother owns and operates The BAKERY on Bergen, a small business in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. His grandfather was Teddy Vann, a music producer who grew up in Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst neighborhood and won a Grammy working with his longtime protege Luther Vandross.[21]

Ossé is openly queer.[22] He lives in Crown Heights, and is a practicing Nichiren Buddhist.[23]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Today is my 23rd birthday! (Jordan year) . @osse2021 . March 18, 2021 . July 12, 2021.
  2. Web site: Council Members & Districts . 2024-01-25 . New York City Council . en-US.
  3. Web site: Chi Ossé is the Queer, Gen-Z Activist Shaking up Brooklyn Local Politics . www.them.us . 14 June 2021. April 5, 2022.
  4. Web site: About Chi. Chi Ossé for City Council. July 12, 2021.
  5. Web site: Combat Jack's Son Chi Ossé Wins New York City Council Primary Race . Okayplayer. Zo. July 12, 2021. July 12, 2021.
  6. Web site: 2020-10-30. Chi Ossé '16. 2022-01-02. Friends Seminary. en.
  7. Web site: NYC Council District 36 Race: Chi Ossé Seeks Brooklyn Seat. Patch.com. Anna Quinn. June 11, 2021. July 12, 2021.
  8. Web site: How the New York Protest Leaders Are Taking On the Establishment. The New York Times. Jan Ransom and Annie Correal. June 11, 2020. July 12, 2021.
  9. Web site: Combat Jack's Son is Running for Public Office in New York City. Complex. Tara Mahadevan. June 20, 2020. July 12, 2021.
  10. Web site: 22-Year-Old Protest Leader Eyes Bed-Stuy Council Seat. Brooklyn Paper. Ben Verde. July 10, 2020. July 12, 2021.
  11. Web site: Is It Too Revolutionary?. Resistance. Saidu Tejan Thomas Jr.. October 14, 2020. July 12, 2021.
  12. Web site: Endorsements for Chi Ossé 2021. Chi Ossé for City Council. July 12, 2021. July 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210716220257/https://osse2021.com/Endorsements. dead.
  13. Web site: Who's Up, Who's Down? Brooklyn Council Election Notes from the Latest Financial Disclosures . Bkylner. Billy Richling. March 17, 2021. July 12, 2021.
  14. Web site: The Third-Generation Brooklynite Running for City Council – Meet Chi Ossé.. The Cut. Devine Blacksher. April 2, 2021. July 12, 2021.
  15. Web site: Chi Ossé Is the Future of Brooklyn's 36th District. V Magazine. Kala Herh. June 16, 2021. July 12, 2021.
  16. Web site: Styling a Revolution: How Chi Ossé and Brandon Tan Are Using Fashion to Win City Council. HypeBae. Alexandra Pauly. July 22, 2020. July 12, 2021.
  17. Web site: Chi Ossé Wins Brooklyn District 36 City Council Race. Patch.com. Anna Quinn. July 6, 2021. July 12, 2021.
  18. Web site: We won mom!. @osse2021. July 2, 2021. July 12, 2021.
  19. Web site: New York City's most surprising primary results. City & State. Jeff Coltin. July 7, 2021. July 12, 2021. July 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210710003352/https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/campaigns-elections/new-york-citys-eye-popping-primary-results.html. dead.
  20. Web site: Chi Ossé on Gen Z's Stamp on Elected Office. Medium. Brianna Holt. April 21, 2021. July 12, 2021.
  21. News: McHugh . Calder . 2022-08-08 . A Party Promoter, an Activist and a City Councilman by 23, Chi Ossé Isn’t Done Yet . Politico.
  22. Web site: Now List 2021: Chi Ossé Is the Queer, Gen-Z Activist Shaking Up Brooklyn Local Politics. Them. Taylor Hosking. June 14, 2021. July 12, 2021.
  23. Web site: As a lifelong practicing Nichiren Buddhist, it is always an honor to be invited into a religious space different than mine. Thank you to the folks at Mount Lebanon for having me this morning. @osse2021. May 2, 2021. July 12, 2021.