Chris Carr Parks

Response to query on Aug. 16 post, Wappinger Creek Map by New Hamburg with bright red warning color: The “red” color “Significant Threat – Action Required.”

Quoting ToP Comprehensive Plan Appendix F p150: “Approximately 121 acres of the tidal portion of the Wappinger Creek has been flagged as a significant threat due to the presence of heavy metals such as zinc, chromium and lead as well as mercury. … The site is under the control of the State Superfund Program however remediation has yet to commence. “ Metal contamination from old industrial operations is cited for Wappinger Creek and two other Town locations.

I post for awareness of a complex long-term issue without easy solutions. With searches I find experts and concerned citizens
like Riverkeeper.org, even a unit of the Hudson River Estuarine Research alongside the creek.

www.townofpoughkeepsie.com

So many zoning requests that they can be mapped as clusters! Is there something systematic that can be improved about zoning? Some zoning, like limiting distance of gas stations from people's homes, I very much like! Appendix F p153 ToP 2030 Comprehensive Plan

Town 2030 Plan Appendix F p151 on Watersheds. Heavy metals lead mercury and old anodizing plant and Superfund and Riverkeeper.org. Getting buried part of Fallkill above ground! Multiple jurisdictions but of interest as a Ward 5 Councilperson.

Thanks Town of Poughkeepsie Democrats for hosting the Meet the Candidates event on Saturday! It was a great opportunity to kick off our campaigns.

Chris Parks Interests and Bio: Within an active retirement, I teach on humanity’s future issues at Marist CLS and Vassar LLL (do we have resources of copper and phosphorus for future populations while achieving an energy transition?) I tutor at Math and Physics Exploration. I worked during the entire Golden Era of chip development, developing patents critical to IBM and Alliances successfully launching the transition of the computer chip industry to copper wiring. I received a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry at UC Berkeley using the synchrotron radiation facility at Stanford. I had happy and successful collaborations (with scientists much smarter than me!) that were formative for the rest of my career. I was Treasurer at the Howland Cultural Center during its time of crisis with an urgent need to replace the 100 year old slate roof of the historical building. I actively read Science, Nature, Scientific American, The Economist, and have strong interest in classic literature, philosophy, history, economics, biking, and hiking. I now study our excellent the Town of Poughkeepsie Comprehensive Plan Appendix F about restoring our three watersheds. I have lived in Dutchess County since 1983 and in Poughkeepsie Ward 5 since 1999. I will make a strong and loyal Town of Poughkeepsie Board member.

In August 2020, our Poughkeepsie Town Ward 5 Councilperson Matt Woolever, a twice-elected Democrat, moved, leaving a vacancy. The vacancy was never posted. I applied, by request of the Town Democratic Committee, so that a Democrat would fill the seat (following precedent.) I retired after a 35 year career with IBM and Global Foundries in which I earned 27 patents and 78 publications on computer chips. I hold a Ph.D in Physical Chemistry from UC Berkeley. Additionally, I served as Treasurer at the Howland Cultural Center during its time of crisis with an urgent need to replace the 100 year old slate roof of the historical building. Despite my credentials, in October 2020 a party-line vote flipped the seat to a Republican, citing an alleged lack of experience!

Now, for the regular election, I am running as a Democrat in support of transparent government, environmental protection, and the exciting 2021 Town Master Plan, affirming the voter-mandated county reapportionment commission now in limbo, and Democratic values. Now in 2021 I am running to win by election the appointment-flipped seat.

Ahead of elections, Town Board appointment raises questions about precedent, partisanship – The Miscellany News Ahead of elections, Town Board appointment raises questions about precedent, partisanship By Jessica Moss Posted on November 2, 2020 in News Above, Ward 5 Councilperson Stephan Krakower thanks the Town Board for his appointment at the Oct. 21, 2020 Town Board meeting. In the run-up to Election Day,....