When the heart of Poughkeepsie beats, it echoes through the life of Chris Grant, a figure whose story we unravel in an interview not to be missed. Experiencing Chris's journey from a student to an entrepreneur and city council member reveals a whole lot of ambition. He discusses his vision for a better school district and as a father himself, he provides insights into nurturing children in today's world. Chris's day-to-day as a council member unfolds before us, painting a picture of dedication to community ties and progress.
Amid the backdrop of an upcoming mayoral election, we also sit down with then-mayoral candidate Yvonne Flowers. She does not hold back on hot-button issues like gentrification and affordable housing, articulating her plans for a sustainable quality of life in Poughkeepsie. Exploring the role of local politics in shaping a city's future, our discussion touches on lighter moments of civic duty to the substantial impact of leadership and accountability. With November 7th drawing closer, learn why Flowers passionately believes she's the change agent Poughkeepsie needs. This episode isn't just about celebrating milestones—it's an eye-opening look at the forces driving one city's hopeful march toward a brighter tomorrow.
When the heart of Poughkeepsie beats, it echoes through the life of Chris Grant, a figure whose story we unravel in an interview not to be missed. Experiencing Chris's journey from a student to an entrepreneur and city council member reveals a whole lot of ambition. He discusses his vision for a better school district and as a father himself, he provides insights into nurturing children in today's world. Chris's day-to-day as a council member unfolds before us, painting a picture of dedication to community ties and progress.
Amid the backdrop of an upcoming mayoral election, we also sit down with then-mayoral candidate Yvonne Flowers. She does not hold back on hot-button issues like gentrification and affordable housing, articulating her plans for a sustainable quality of life in Poughkeepsie. Exploring the role of local politics in shaping a city's future, our discussion touches on lighter moments of civic duty to the substantial impact of leadership and accountability. With November 7th drawing closer, learn why Flowers passionately believes she's the change agent Poughkeepsie needs. This episode isn't just about celebrating milestones—it's an eye-opening look at the forces driving one city's hopeful march toward a brighter tomorrow.
The segment of In the Field Radio is brought to you by the Village Global Network, airing on Culture Shock Radio, versaio, rockbox FM and Waptor Music FM.
Lady D:
It's In the Field Radio y'all. Everything's real in the field On 91.3 FM WVKR.
Erin Boogie:
Welcome back to In the Field Radio. I'm Erin Boogie. I'm here with Miss Lady D.
Lady D:
What's going on?
Erin Boogie:
And we have birthday boy Chris Grant in the building.
Chris Grant:
Hi everybody.
Erin Boogie:
In the virtual building.
Chris Grant:
In the virtual building.
Lady D:
I like it.
Erin Boogie:
Oh, why don't you introduce yourself to our listeners and tell them a little bit about who Chris Grant is?
Chris Grant:
So hi everybody, my name is Christopher Grant. You could also call me Chris Grant. Obviously I'm a City of Poughkeepsie council member for the sixth ward. I've been a council member since January.
Chris Grant:
Born and raised in the City of Poughkeepsie, I graduated Poughkeepsie High School 2005 and I went on to college. I graduated from Buffalo State College and after I got my bachelor's I came back to the City of Poughkeepsie. I've held jobs in finance. I worked in corrections for a few years until I kind of decided to do my own entrepreneur thing. I started a couple of nonprofits in the City of Poughkeepsie. I've been doing a lot of community work and that's what kind of pushed me to go into city government Entrepreneur. I had a restaurant for a couple of years. It was called the Breakfast Spa. I was on Main Street. I'm actually thinking about bringing it back. And yeah, I have a small business that I run. It's a marketing business. I help small businesses with business development and just help them get into more traction and stuff like that. So that's me. Oh, and I also run the City of Poughkeepsie Youth Baseball League.
Lady D:
Oh my goodness, casually, all these things. What was growing up in Poughkeepsie like for you?
Chris Grant:
I think you know how do I explain it. I guess everybody's experience growing up in Poughkeepsie is going to be different. I wouldn't say I had a bad experience in Poughkeepsie. Obviously we live in a city where we have a hood and street stuff occur, but I was never really involved in any of that stuff so it never really hit home for me because I wasn't in that group of people. So I'd say growing up in Poughkeepsie was cool. I don't think I had a bad childhood. I don't think that obviously families go through things, but I would say growing up in Poughkeepsie was cool for me.
Lady D:
So you're a dad.
Chris Grant:
Yeah, I'm a dad.
Lady D:
What things concern you the most about your child growing up?
Chris Grant:
It's outside influences. I think that you could do so much to teach your kids the right way to live and the right things to do, but outside influences are always going to have an impact too. So I think my biggest concern for him is just sticking with the values and things that I'm teaching him and just him living through it and sticking with that throughout his whole life. So I think I mean, obviously, education is always a concern for me. I want the Poughkeepsie school district to be the best district in the state. I would rather that I grew up in a city Poughkeepsie. I'm a graduate of the city of Poughkeepsie and I'd love for my son to be a graduate of the city of Poughkeepsie as well.
Erin Boogie:
Is he in the city of Poughkeepsie school district now?
Chris Grant:
He goes to a private school. Yeah, he goes to a private school.
Lady D:
You know what's interesting? I think me and Aaron were talking. I was like I went to Arlington. Arlington is a public school. Poughkeepsie is a public school. One of them looks like a college campus.
Chris Grant:
Resources Arlington has a lot of resources than we do.
Lady D:
Yeah.
Erin Boogie:
I feel like the general consensus in the city of Poughkeepsie is that the city of Poughkeepsie school district struggles right the graduation rate.
Chris Grant:
I know they've been improving over the past few years since Dr Roster has been here as a superintendent, but you know, obviously there's always room for improvement everywhere. No matter how great you are, you could always get better.
Erin Boogie:
So what would you like to see? Improving the school district? What would make you want to put your son in public school?
Chris Grant:
I'd like to see a push for more hiring and training of people that are from the area A lot of my friends that I graduated high school with in 2005,. A lot of them don't live in the city of Poughkeepsie anymore and a lot of them are educators, a lot of them are professionals. So I'd like to see a system where people want to come back to Poughkeepsie and teach in Poughkeepsie or be doctors in Poughkeepsie or you know. I want it to be like homegrown. I think that a lot of times we have a lot of educators who aren't bad educators, but they're not familiar with the demographic that they have to teach, you know, and that's difficult a lot, you know, and not everybody can navigate through that. So I'd like to see more homegrown professionals in the area or in the school district particularly.
Lady D:
What's a typical day like for you as a county legislator? Council member Not unless you're a county legislator.
Chris Grant:
Not yet I mean a lot of it is answering phone calls and responding to emails and making connections with different organizations in the city of Poughkeepsie and even people in different regions, trying to see what people in other municipalities are doing, to try and kind of take, you know, see what they're doing and see how it works for them and kind of taking a piece of it and revamping it for the city of Poughkeepsie because I think it's always important to look outside and see what other people are doing and then try to, you know, bring a rendition of whatever they're doing into city of Poughkeepsie. So it's, it could be anything. Sometimes I'm responding to neighbors. They call me to come and look at the things that they're complaining, other issues that they have. I could be in a business in a sixth ward or I could be at somebody's house in a sixth ward. You know it's a lot.
Chris Grant:
My phone, my phone rings nonstop. Sometimes I get calls at 4, 30 in the morning and you know, and I think what's a good thing is, um, what I'm hearing a lot from constituents around my ward and even other other wards is that people they like that I respond. You know they like that. I'm very responsive. I might not be able to get to you right away, but I usually always respond, so I think people really like that and and they enjoy that. I'm gonna hear, I'm here to listen and I'm willing to work with them and, to you know, help them find a solution to whatever problems that they have.
Erin Boogie:
Can you let our listeners know, because you keep saying the sixth ward, so for our listeners, can you um describe what that territory encompasses for you?
Chris Grant:
Well, I would say the sixth ward is probably one of the most unique wards in a city because it has everything. It has our business district, it has the hood, it has some of the south side where some of the more prominent and wealthier people live. So I think the sixth ward is a true reflection of the city of Poughkeepsie, as in totality you know. So, um, if I can give you an idea where it runs from, I don't know how familiar you are with Poughkeepsie, but um, so I have Academy Street from Montgomery down to the end of um Catherine Street and then all the way up. So then I go all the way up Main Street and then up the arterial up to like Around where the underwear factory is. I boarder the fifth ward over on that side and then I go all on this side. I'm all the way up Hooker Avenue up until Cherry Street and then everything in the middle. So Yo.
Chris Grant:
I got a school in my ward, I got a couple churches in my ward, a lot of businesses in my ward.
Lady D:
so my goodness it's a lot.
Chris Grant:
It's a lot.
Erin Boogie:
Is that being a council member a good entryway into politics?
Chris Grant:
I Think it is. You know, I think I think sometimes the politics side of it can get a little bit carried away, especially at this level. I think that this is probably one of the the lowest levels of politics. You know, local government, city government, and I think sometimes People get caught up in the whole idea of what politics is supposed to be like.
Chris Grant:
And me more, I'm more so about, like I told Devereux earlier this week, that I'm more so about how I can help the city of the kids at a higher capacity. You know, I don't really care. I was some, I'm in it now, but I don't really care for the Politics side of it. I mean, if I, you know I'm gonna play the game the way it has to be played. But you know I I'm more, I'm more concerned with with helping the city of the kids, see, and how I could team up and partner with other people, other politicians, that that you know, that had that shared the same values, and we just want to want to make change. I want to make positive change. So you know, all the politics stuff, it is what it is. You know it's gonna be there because this is this is the field that I'm in now but, like I said, my focus is more so on how I can improve the city of the kids.
Erin Boogie:
What are some initiatives that you're working on?
Chris Grant:
Um, well, a big thing for me is youth. You know, and, and I know that, like I said, I run the youth baseball league. I've been a part of several youth initiatives in the city of Poughkeepsie. I think that, and the way I see it is, if we invest into the children the right way, then that'll change the whole landscape of Poughkeepsie. You know, I mean you got to start at the kids and you got to start and instill the proper just like I do with my son, it's sort of proper values and then invest in them, show them as many opportunities as you can, you know, just show them that there's there's life outside of it, and I think that's how you change the narrative of the city of Poughkeepsie. So I'm real big on invested into the youth.
Lady D:
I Love that. I love that so many people are. You know they have nonprofits, they're doing stuff for the kids and everything else. What about the adults? Is there, you know, I mean. That's out here while you know adults need.
Chris Grant:
Adults need services too, and I even I was even in conversations with somebody about Creating like a parent support group, you know, like just for just for parents who we got, parents who work double shifts, who are unable to be home with their kids in the afternoon, and I would like to see a program created where we have obviously trustworthy adults that can kind of be support, to be of some sort of support to the parents. You know, so um, so kids are just not running wild, and Because kids need structure, you know, and that's what it is. So I want to see more parents support groups. I want to see more um programs for the elderly.
Lady D:
Yeah, I guess there are clubs or organizations uh, either professional or recreational that you would recommend To say like I'm 32. I don't have any kids, you know what I mean.
Chris Grant:
There's a bunch of, there's a bunch of adults out there that just they just party you know, I mean that's I wish, I wish I knew, because I kind of like I'm not, I'm an easy to please person. So it's like you know I could find something to do Easy, you know, and something that I enjoy doing easy.
Lady D:
So I just feel like that's the biggest thing about people leaving the area. I feel like you hit like this ceiling you know, I mean like I started, you know, growing, and then I was like I gotta get out of here, there's nothing.
Chris Grant:
You know, and it's, and it's. It's funny you say that because I always say to people and this is no, I don't, I mean this as no disrespect, but, um, I wish that our community saw Poughkeepsie as the white community saw Poughkeepsie. We see Poughkeepsie two and two totally different ways, you know, and I wish we saw it the way they saw it, because there's a lot of there, there is a lot of opportunity here, you know, which is why you see all this development happening, which is why you see people moving and migrating here. There's stuff here, but I think it's presented to our community in a different way. So we don't think there's stuff here, you know. We don't think.
Chris Grant:
You think that we always have to look outside the box when I think there's a lot that you can get done in Poughkeepsie, for me, um, I can't be in one place for too long, so I like to travel and that's how, like, living in a small town like this is variable that I'm able to get away sometimes and I could come back. So I just wish that, um, we saw Poughkeepsie the same way, like I wish our community see the opportunities that are here. But a lot of things are by design too, and I, and I say that a lot too, and I'm not afraid to say that. You know, a lot of things are by design. That's just the world.
Lady D:
So what's the funniest part of your job?
Chris Grant:
The funniest part of my job People who have so many problems, or or they want to tell you how to how to work or how to do your job, or how they think you should do your job, but they never offer up any solutions. You know, and I'm always like listen, what, what do you think we should do? I'm like help me, I'm new. You know, I've only been a counselor for eight months, so it's like I always tell people like I'm okay, I don't have a problem with being held accountable. You know, I'm still learning, so I don't have a problem with being held accountable. So I'm like all right, I understand we have these issues. Why don't we try to brainstorm together on how we could fix these issues? You know, don't just tell me all the issues without having possible solutions.
Chris Grant:
You know you're looking. I mean, obviously I'm the person that holds the seat, sort of looking for me to make the decision, but I'm always open to input. You know, I want to work collaboratively with people. I don't want to just be the person making the decisions and then you go. You all have to deal with it. You know, I want I always want input, which is why I had several public hearings about Um different things going on public sessions, about different things going on in the sixth ward. Because I want people's input, because I don't just want to make a decision because I think it's best for everybody. I don't know what's the best for everybody because I'm not everybody. You know what were some of the public hearings about um well, uh, one in particular.
Chris Grant:
There's a park in in my ward called Bartlett Park and, um, you know, I just from living in Poughkeepsie. I've seen a lot At times that things just happen in Poughkeepsie and a lot of people Think they're happening by surprise. But they're never happening by surprise. There's always a plan, there's always conversations about it, and I just want people to be aware and be able to have their input. So you know they're going to renovate that park. It's right around the corner for me. So I wanted people to have input of what type of thing that they wanted to see in the park. I didn't just want the developers to come in and say, hey, we think this will work here. I wanted the people to come in and say what they wanted to see there.
Lady D:
What's going on?
Chris Grant:
It's your boy motif alumni and you're now listening to infield radio with Lady D and Aaron Boogie on 91.3 WVKR King.
Lady D:
All right. So, in addition to Speaking with Councilman Christopher Grant, we got to talk to mayoral candidate and fifth ward councilwoman Yvonne flowers. Yes, we got real political up in here. Okay, we can be serious. We can be serious sometimes. So I went online and I asked the people on my page you know what y'all want me to ask her you, she running from there what y'all want me to ask her, what do y'all want to see change in pre-kipsey, what do you want? And People said I mean the same thing.
Lady D:
I was concerned with gentrification, more investments in the youth and resources for people who are struggling to pay rent due to gentrification. Again, ymca, youth groups. Stop the luxury developments or give us more money. Clean up the kipsey, stop kicking people out. Mental health resources for the kids. You know everybody had the same concerns. I even. When I left the kipsey last year it was because rent was going up and the conditions were not good in the apartments cough cough core lease and I didn't even have to ask her really about this.
Lady D:
She came out the gate talking about the quality of life and prices of living in pre-kipsey and how that correlates to the living conditions, and what she said was that in order to combat that. One of the things really is to make sure that these places are up to code. How are you charging people all of this money for rent and it's supposed to be affordable housing and then there's rats and rodent, roaches and all type of stuff going on and they're not fixing it. Nothing works. It's dangerous. So she definitely talked about enforcing codes and quality of living, and she spoke about Making sure that affordable housing is included in discussions about development. When y'all want to develop you know, luxury condos and and build more living spaces, there needs to be a affordable housing.
Lady D:
In that conversation, what I think was also really important that she brought up, which I brought up to Councilman Grant, is what about the adults? She spoke about Programming that took children from, you know, being kids up through their teenagers. But what about after that? You know they need to get employment. There needs to be Training for the rest of their lives. Don't just forget about them once they turn 18, and I really love that. She said that. That that really touched me, to be honest. So, with that being said, I'm gonna play a clip. I'm gonna let Yvonne flowers tell you herself this is for everybody that was asking these questions on that post. What do we do about the kids? What do we would do about the living situations? You want to know the answer. Here's the answer, right here.
Lady D:
Okay so who should we vote for November 7?
Yvonne Flowers:
We should vote for Yvonne Flowers to be mayor to say to be Kimsey, and no one else Yvonne Flowers to be mayor to say to be Kimsey. That's what we should be voting for, without a doubt, and early voting is all the way up until November 5th. So we're encouraging people to come out in early voting because you know it's from what I understand, the forecast is supposed to be cold and rainy on November 7th. So sometimes I, sometimes we don't like to come out, you know, when it's raining. So I think it's if you don't want to go out in that kind of weather, and then it's good if people come out early to vote.
Yvonne Flowers:
So they can vote now, right, yes early voting yeah, it started on October 28th. So now it's yeah, it's October 28th, up until November 5th, and so there's different locations you can vote at. If you go on the Duchess County Board of Election website, it'll give you all the location, and if you're in the city of Ekebsie, there's two locations on Borman Road the library on Borman Road and also Mid Hudson Library that's on Market Street.
Lady D:
What is the funniest part of your job? Like what just tickles you.
Yvonne Flowers:
The funniest part of my job I don't know what tickles me, I guess is the kids working with the kids. You know we do a basketball program with the kids and even during the summer I've seen a lot of kids kind of step up and want to do some programming and some youth programs and it's just just seeing the excitement in their face. And then sometimes they'll come up to me and I'm a city council member, but they'll look at me and like I'm almost like the president, like oh, oh, you know, I'm like no honey. I said I'm a city council member, you know. And then when you get to talk with them and realize that they can do this also, you know they seem amused. Like really, I thought you had to go to college for like 15 years, as one boy said it. I'm like no honey, you just got to graduate from my high school and be registered to vote yeah and have a passion to make a difference and you can do this job, yeah so it was cute.
Yvonne Flowers:
Yeah, it was really cute. So that's the thing I kind of laugh at sometimes.
Lady D:
Is there anything else you want the people to know?
Yvonne Flowers:
Just want to know that. You know it's very important that we go out to vote In the city of Bikipsi. Unfortunately, we have low voter turnout. I mean, that's happened throughout the years and we seem like we have to fight harder to get people to come out. And I tell people, if you come out to vote, that also elevates the voice in the city of Bikipsi by coming out in numbers.
Yvonne Flowers:
So no matter who you decide to vote for but of course I'm going to tell you to vote for Yvonne Flowers but really want everyone to come out to vote for this election so we can show everyone on the state, the federal and county level that Bikipsi has a voice, a strong voice in the city of Bikipsi, you know, because that also helps us when it comes to moving forward and getting the resources that we need. They're going to pay attention to the Bikipsi and I'm going to make sure they pay attention as mayor. But it would be nice to make sure that I have a nice group of people, a large group, in the city of Bikipsi. That's also, you know, saying you need to watch us because we're here and we're going to make you accountable.
Lady D:
I love it. Thank you so much for taking the time out to sit with us.
Yvonne Flowers:
You're welcome. You're so welcome, but thank you for reaching out and asking me to join and doing it by Zoom. That works out well.
Lady D:
Welcome back to In the Field Radio. You know what I'm about to do. Make sure you follow In the Field Radio. Write to me, tell me what you think. Do song requests? You know what I'm saying? Talk to me, do shout outs. If you write to me in the DMs, I'm going to read it and I'm going to do what you tell me to do. Boss me around. I like that stuff. Add In the Field Radio on everything. All right, I'm about to get out of here. Big thank you and I love you to anybody that's rocking with us. All our loyal listeners Love you guys. Thanks for chilling with those chicks on Mondays In the Field Radio 91.3 FM, wvkr Prokipsy. Have a good night.