Podcast Summary: The Comedy Cellar: Live from the Table
Episode: Corinne Fisher Joins the New York Mayoral Race
Date: April 4, 2025
Host: Comedy Cellar Network
Guests: Dan Natterman, Noam Dwarman, Perry Al Ashenbrand, Corinne Fisher (Democratic Candidate for 2025 NYC Mayoral Race)
Overview
This episode features comedian and podcaster Corinne Fisher, now a serious candidate in the 2025 New York City mayoral race. The discussion dives into her campaign platform, policies targeting NYC’s cost of living, affordable housing, small business challenges, public education, and more. The panel—anchored by longtime Comedy Cellar owner Noam Dwarman—engages Fisher on the merits and pitfalls of her proposals, often challenging her from the perspective of a small business owner and long-time New Yorker. The conversation is characteristically candid, irreverent, and opinionated, blending policy analysis with classic Comedy Cellar wit.
Main Segments & Key Discussion Points
1. Corinne Fisher’s Mayoral Campaign: Real or Stunt?
[02:02–03:12]
- Corinne assures the table her candidacy is 100% genuine, not a publicity move.
- “There are way easier ways to get attention, especially as a woman… It’s the most work I’ve done in my entire life.” (Corinne Fisher, 02:10)
- She discusses the personal and legal implications if it were just a joke.
2. Campaign Announcement Video & Platform Introduction
[03:25–04:47]
- The panel listens to Corinne’s campaign announcement—addressing corruption, rent, police accountability, and a vision for keeping NYC inclusive and culturally vibrant.
- “Being the biggest police department in the country isn’t something to brag about. Being the best will be.” (Corinne Fisher, campaign ad, 04:11)
- Video production credits: Eric Freddy (videographer), Nicole Lyons (editor/producer)
3. High Cost of Living & Fees for Residents vs. Tourists
[05:24–09:16]
- Corinne’s stance: No new resident fees; proposes a minor tourist fee, modeled after Las Vegas’s destination charge.
- Emphasizes enforcing fare evasion more equitably and using NYPD presence at turnstiles rather than punitive crackdowns.
- “So if we’re going to stop people for fare-evading, we have to be stopping all kinds of people.” (Corinne Fisher, 07:13)
- Noam raises concerns about ever-increasing fees and NYC’s global affordability.
4. Affordable Housing and Rent Stabilization
[10:17–18:06]
- Debate over the effectiveness and side effects of rent control and “affordable housing” requirements.
- Corinne supports increasing the percentage of affordable units in new builds (targeting 35%, up from ~32%).
- Noam argues black markets and “squatters” are byproducts of these policies, recounting examples of underpriced rent and inefficiency.
- “Every one of us knows half a dozen people who are illegally subletting rent control apartments.” (Noam Dwarman, 14:15)
- Corinne counters that affordable housing would require continuous income verification—if renters’ incomes increase, they must leave the units.
- Both acknowledge restrictive NYC building policies compared to more conservative cities.
5. Small Business Survival: Rent, Regulation, and Wages
[21:29–33:03]
- Corinne proposes “capped rent” for small businesses, essentially commercial rent stabilization.
- Noam challenges the practicality:
- “If you’re a landlord… the property is now worth twice as much as it was prior… Now you’re telling them: nope [you can’t charge more].” (Noam Dwarman, 23:22)
- Complexities of defining “small business” and “corporation” are debated.
- Discussion on minimum wage hikes for large chains, potential unintended consequences favoring big brands like Starbucks.
6. NYC’s Regulatory and Bureaucratic Burden
[39:03–41:08]
- Noam and Corinne agree: City government is technologically behind and choked with red tape.
- “The city shouldn’t have a fax machine. We have email. Crazy.” (Corinne Fisher, 39:46)
- Noam shares personal frustrations as a venue owner, including years-long permit processes and illogical rules.
7. Supporting NYC’s Arts & Culture: Audition-Based Housing
[41:11–44:45]
- Corinne proposes affordable, audition-based housing for artists to sustain NYC’s cultural edge.
- Noam and the table are skeptical, fearing corruption and subjectivity in auditions.
- “The idea of auditions is… wide open for corruption. Look at what happened to Just for Laughs in Montreal.” (Noam Dwarman, 43:29)
- Corinne floats public voting on YouTube (“New York’s Got Talent”) to democratize selection.
8. Public Education, Anti-Semitism, and Discipline
[57:45–76:27]
- Issue: Rising anti-Semitism in NYC schools and proper boundaries for political/religious speech in the classroom.
- Corinne: “Crime, anti-Semitic crimes have to be treated as hate crimes. But I would also say the same if something is happening where people are anti-Islam, then they also have to be supported.” (Corinne Fisher, 60:37)
- Corinne on education reform: Teachers at underperforming schools should be paid more; big class sizes hinder learning.
- Noam emphasizes the failure to maintain disciplined environments, proposing “alternative classrooms” for disruptive students to protect well-intentioned kids.
- “If you want to fix the schools... tell every kid in a different classroom where you have someone who has a certification in dealing with people probably with emotional issues.” (Corinne Fisher, 74:55)
- The panel debates the limits of teacher impact versus home environment and discipline.
9. NYC’s Future Outlook: Is the City Dying or Thriving?
[54:09–56:15]
- Concerns aired about the city losing its entrepreneurial and cultural dynamism due to overregulation and high costs (“New York is hanging by a thread”).
- Tension between hyper-growth areas and struggling small businesses highlighted.
10. Closing Thoughts & Openness to Change
[78:23–81:13]
- Corinne stresses her willingness to listen to business owners and refine her policies.
- “I think there are additions... I am passionate about that, and so while I have owned a brick and mortar, I haven’t owned one in New York City.” (Corinne Fisher, 78:30)
- Noam, despite strong disagreements, considers Corinne “open and reasonable” and potentially “a good mayor.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On running for Mayor:
- “There are way easier ways to get attention.” (Corinne Fisher, 02:10)
- On city bureaucracy:
- “The city shouldn’t have a fax machine. We have email. Crazy.” (Corinne Fisher, 39:46)
- On market forces:
- “It’s one of the profound failings of our entire education system… the average person does not understand how the market works.” (Noam Dwarman, 37:31)
- On school discipline:
- “If you want to fix the schools... tell every kid in a different classroom where you have someone who has a certification in dealing with people probably with emotional issues.” (Corinne Fisher, 74:55)
- On anti-Semitism:
- “Crime, anti-Semitic crimes have to be treated as hate crimes. But I would also say the same if something is happening where people are anti-Islam, then they also have to be supported.” (Corinne Fisher, 60:37)
- On Candidate Openness:
- “Noam, isn’t down with much of your platform.” — “That’s fine. I knew what I was walking into.” (Dan Natterman & Corinne Fisher, 78:19)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Corinne’s Mayoral Campaign is Real: 02:02–03:12
- Campaign Announcement Ad: 03:25–04:47
- Main Policy Points Introduction: 05:24–09:16
- Housing and Rent Control Debate: 10:17–18:06
- Small Business and Commercial Rent: 21:29–33:03
- Regulation and City Bureaucracy: 39:03–41:08
- Artist Housing Proposal: 41:11–44:45
- Education, Antisemitism, and School Discipline: 57:45–76:27
- Closing Reflections on NYC & Candidate Flexibility: 78:23–81:13
Overall Tone & Takeaways
The episode is a robust, freewheeling mix of policy debate, insider comedy banter, and New York street smarts. Corinne Fisher comes off as passionate, open-minded, and earnest about reform but is regularly challenged on economic realities by Noam Dwarman and company. The conversation covers some of the city’s most pressing issues—affordability, regulation, housing, small business, cultural vibrancy, and education—captured through the unfiltered voices of local comedians who live and work in NYC every day.
Listeners can expect both laughs and sharp insights on the quirks and challenges of running America’s largest city—plus a revealing peek into the mindset of an outsider (and comic) turned would-be mayor.