Canal Street Dreams — Episode Summary

Episode: Chi Ossé on Why Sh*t Not Working, His Start in Politics, Solving the Housing Crisis & More

Date: October 10, 2025
Hosts: Eddie Huang & Natashia Perrotti
Guest: Chi Ossé, Councilman from Bed Stuy, NYC

Overview

This episode of Canal Street Dreams features a dynamic, candid conversation with Councilman Chi Ossé. Eddie, Natashia, and Chi cover everything from the failures and fixes in New York City politics, the roots of Chi’s political journey, the realities of organizing, housing crises and policy, and the “real” NYC food scene. The tone is irreverent, honest, and uniquely New York—embracing humor and real talk while digging into the nuts and bolts of activism, policy, and city life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chi’s Path from Nightlife to City Hall

00:52 – 07:57

• Personal Backstory:
  • Chi recalls his Brooklyn upbringing, time in California, and initial gigs as a nightlife promoter and DJ.
  • Quote: “If you're a party promoter and you can get people to come to the club in February, you can get people to the polls in the summer.” (Chi, 07:32)
• Pandemic Pivot:
  • Lockdown led Chi to activism, especially after George Floyd’s murder.
  • He became a prominent protest organizer and turned grassroots energy into a campaign for City Council.
• Organizing Crossover:
  • Skills from nightlife—mobilizing, promoting, creating community—directly informed his political approach.
  • His campaign staff was a mishmash of creatives: musicians, fashion people, not political insiders.

2. Why Sh*t Not Working (aka How to Fix New York)

00:33 – throughout

• Both Chi and hosts riff on the recurring theme that “sh*t’s not working”—from city services to politics.
• Quote: “Why shit not working? …Shit needs to work, you know what I mean? So I love every single version of that.” (Chi, 00:37)

3. Housing in NYC: Problems, Policies, and Politics

08:31 – 32:51

• The Fair Act:
  • Problem: Forced broker fees; tenants paying thousands on top of rent for agents they never hired.
  • Solution: FAIR Act—whoever hires a broker (landlord or tenant) pays the fee.
  • Quote: “I found that to be bullshit…let me make this not happen anymore.” (Chi, 09:31)
• Host’s Real Estate Nightmare:
  • Eddie shares a detailed story of being scammed by a real estate broker/contractor in LA, suffering massive financial loss due to shoddy renovations and shady practices.
  • Conversation turns to the lack of accountability and need for malpractice law in real estate, akin to medicine and law.
• New York’s Housing Supply Crisis:
  • Stats: Vacancy rate is at a 1.6% historic low.
  • Population/job growth greatly outpaces new housing stock.
  • Quote: “Change is the most constant thing here in New York City. In order for us to keep people in the city, we need to make room for as many people as possible.” (Chi, 17:56)
• Development Philosophy:
  • Chi: Strongly anti-Robert Moses, pro-Jane Jacobs values—community, integration, public space—while still advocating for more housing at all income levels.
• Bed Stuy Projects:
  • Chi recently greenlit 4,000 new homes, prioritizing affordable and mixed-income units.
• Challenges:
  • Systemic resistance among City Council members and leadership like Mayor Eric Adams.
  • Influence of big real estate on elected officials stalls progress.

4. Affordable Housing and the Lottery System

28:01 – 33:13

• Lottery System Successes and Failures:
  • It works for some, but is fundamentally a sign of failure—too little affordable housing means tens of thousands chase a handful of spots.
  • Chi: “The fact that [the lottery] even has to exist is a problematic failure.” (30:40)
• Community Effects:
  • When social strata mix in housing (via lottery), genuine community is created, in the spirit of Jane Jacobs.
  • Quote: “If every single building had to reserve a certain number of units for lottery...you actually create community and it solves a lot of political issues.” (Host, 31:15)

5. Vacant Apartments & Landlords

24:50 – 26:51

• Thousands of rent-regulated units are kept empty—some due to disrepair, many due to “warehousing”.
• Chi sponsored a bill to increase oversight on this, but it was blocked by Mayor Adams.
• Housing solutions require a “yes, and” approach: building, tenant protection, legal aid, anti-eviction support.

6. Broader Political Stakes: Fighting Fascism & the Future of NYC

33:27 – 37:41

• Chi raises alarm on the far-right threat at the national level and the lack of robust Democratic response.
• Stresses NYC should “fortify” itself as a model of progressive government—protecting health care, jobs, affordability.
• Vocal support for mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani and the need for real unity among Democrats, not just rhetoric.
• Quote: “We need to elect better Democrats, make sure that we are not akin to some of those Republicans by taking the same money from these large corporations...” (Chi, 35:09)
• The right enemies are a badge of honor: “The landlords don’t like him. Like, why not?” (Chi, 37:31)

7. Food, Community, and Keeping New York Real

38:07 – 51:45

• NYC’s Food Scene:
  • Chi laments the post-2020 “slop” and TikTok/AI food culture rising in the city.
  • Favorite spots: The Fly, Mariscos El Submarino (Jackson Heights), Golden Chopstick (Crown Heights), Bernie's (Greenpoint), Thai Diner, Frankel’s, and local “hood Chinese” take-out joints.
  • Extended debate: NYC vs. DC for best hood Chinese (mumbo sauce gets a nod).
• Nostalgia and Gentrification:
  • Chinatown’s decline due to gentrification; hope for a future comeback.
  • Disdain for overpriced, underwhelming “small plates” and “wine bar” trends.
• Parenting & Food:
  • The hosts talk about raising a non-picky eater toddler with a diverse palate, believing it leads to more open-minded adults.
  • “We have too many people who've grown up on chicken fingers and french fries running things.” (Chi, 51:39)

8. Nightlife, Harm Reduction & Narcan Legislation

42:41 – 43:51

• Chi discusses championing a bill requiring bars to carry Narcan, a lifesaving overdose intervention—“one of my first bills.”
• He frames it as pragmatic compassion: “People are going to do this and we need to protect them.” (Host, 43:30)
• Pushback against those who see harm reduction as “enabling,” especially those exhibiting hypocrisy (pro-life but not pro-harm-reduction).

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “If you're a party promoter and you can get people to come to the club in February, you can get people to the polls in the summer.” (Chi, 07:32)
• “Why shit not working? …Shit needs to work, you know what I mean?” (Chi, 00:37)
• “I found that to be bullshit…let me make this not happen anymore.” (Chi on broker fees, 09:31)
• “Change is the most constant thing here in New York City. In order for us to keep people in the city, we need to make room for as many people as possible.” (Chi, 17:56)
• “Vacancy rate is at 1.6%...So we have people moving into the city from all over the country, and they're competing for the same homes…” (Chi, 16:22)
• “The fact that [the lottery] even has to exist is a problematic failure.” (Chi, 30:40)
• “We need to elect better Democrats, make sure that we are not akin to some of those Republicans by taking the same money from these large corporations...” (Chi, 35:09)
• “The landlords don’t like him. Like, why not?” (Chi on Zoran, 37:31)
• “We have too many people who've grown up on chicken fingers and french fries running things.” (Chi, 51:39)

Memorable Moments

• The tongue-in-cheek “DJ pipeline” to activism and politics. (01:28–02:53)
• Blunt take on Robert Moses: “Robert Moses is an evil or was an evil person.” (Chi, 15:36)
• Real estate horror story from Eddie – mid-six-figure loss due to fraud; intense venting about the real estate “wild west.” (10:08–13:13)
• Extended, lovingly detailed debate over “hood Chinese food” superiority, city by city. (39:05–41:02)
• Narcan bill as a club to hypocrisy: “These are the same people that are like, allegedly going to church on Sunday in our pro life…Let them die? How is your performative virtue signaling let somebody die?” (Chi, 43:57)
• Food rants: “Abolish the wine bar …Don’t charge me $18 for a cold cucumber salad” (Chi, 46:32), and laments on “mid salad” costing $30. (Co-host/Natashia, 49:19)
• Celebrating the anti-Chicken Finger Parenting Agenda. (51:39)

Political Calls to Action

• Vote on November 4th:
  • Chi passionately encourages turnout: “It's not over until it's over. We need a better mayor. Vote for Zoron.” (Chi, 51:58)

Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Start | End | |-----------------------------------------------|---------|---------| | Chi’s Story—Nightlife to Activism | 00:52 | 07:57 | | Why Sh*t Not Working (Show Theme) | 00:33 | | | Broker Fees, Fair Act, Housing Policy | 08:31 | 14:59 | | Real Estate Malpractice & Housing Stories | 10:08 | 13:13 | | Development Philosophy | 15:21 | 18:34 | | Bed Stuy Housing, Affordability Strategies | 18:34 | 23:02 | | Adams Critique, NYC Politics | 23:01 | 24:32 | | Vacant Apartments & Regulation | 24:50 | 26:51 | | Holistic Housing Solutions | 26:51 | 27:59 | | Lottery System – Pros/Cons | 28:01 | 33:13 | | Current Political Climate & Call to Action | 33:27 | 37:41 | | Food Segment: Best Restaurants, Chinatown | 38:07 | 50:51 | | Narcan, Nightlife, Harm Reduction | 42:41 | 43:51 | | Parenting, Chicken Fingers, Community | 51:09 | 51:45 | | Closing—Party Offer, Hood Chinese Plans | 52:19 | 53:25 |

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a direct, humorous, and unsparing tone—the hosts and guest curse, name names (and avoid a few for legal reasons), and are fiercely local/personal in their experiences. The style is intimate, no-nonsense, with flourishes of nostalgia and righteous anger, leavened with community pride and hope.

If you haven’t listened to the episode, this summary offers you Chi Ossé in full color: the city councilman with party-planner DNA, a devotion to affordable housing, a streetwise view of power and organizing, a critical eye to city and party leadership, and an unpretentious love for the realest food in New York.