<strong>Basics</strong>: To get in touch with me, email drew@patch.com or call (650) 906-0853.
<strong>Hometown</strong>: Los Angeles
<strong>Birthday</strong>: Aug. 4
<strong>Bio</strong>:<br>I grew up in Los Angeles, and after an extended stint on the East Coast, I returned to California four years ago to live in the Bay Area. I went to UC Berkeley for my master's degree in journalism, where I specialized in multimedia reporting and completed a radio documentary about the entertainment industry.
I worked for a summer reporting local news at community radio station KWMR in Point Reyes Station. I delved more deeply into online reporting through a fellowship at News 21, a multimedia news lab funded by the Carnegie and Knight foundations, where I helped create an innovative online news site about the 2008 election.
As a freelance reporter, my radio stories have appeared on City Visions, Crosscurrents, The California Report, Making Contact and Day to Day, on NPR. My print stories have run in the San Francisco Chronicle, Dwell magazine, and American Craft, and earlier this year I created and produced a podcast for The Bold Italic.
In my free time, I enjoy cooking, reading and exploring the Bay Area with my husband, Aaron.
<b>Your Beliefs</b>:
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.This disclosure is not a license for our editors to inject their beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that their beliefs are on the record will cause them to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
<strong>Politics</strong>
Philosophically, I lean left in many ways, but I have a strong pragmatic streak that that values realistic compromise over idealism. I've found that political definitions tend to break down at the local level, and I don't think that my political ideology predicts my position on local development, local schools or local law enforcement.
<strong>Religion</strong>
My Jewish identity is very important to me, and I am involved in the Bay Area Jewish community through several organizations. I embrace the Jewish tradition of questioning and debate, and that tradition pretty much defines my approach to religious observance.
<strong>Local Hot-Button Issues</strong>
I think one of the most important local issues is keeping up a high level of public services while dealing with budget constraints. That's why in November, we're looking at a local school bond and Prop. 22 on the ballot, which would block the state from interfering in local municipal funds. I think in times of economic contraction, it's important to balance saving money with making sure not to cut back in ways that hurt the economy further. I'll be taking a close look at these issues and trying to figure them out for myself as I report them here.
Even though voters won't decide on the school bond until November, the board is starting plans for solar panel installation now to take advantage of rebate and incentive programs.
PTA, bingo, and walking around town.
Most South City residents I talked to hadn't checked out online maps to see if gas pipelines run near their homes.
Nicholas Geranios turned himself into a San Francisco police department on Tuesday after a San Mateo County judge issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of prostituting his girlfriend online.
At the latest meeting of the South San Francisco Historical Society, attendants were treated to a performance of Basque dance after the society swore in its new officers.
Though pipeline in South San Francisco was previously considered among the top 100 high-risk segments of pipe, it was not on the list PG&E released today.
During South San Francisco Patch's first week, I saw how strong this community is.
Smoke was reported in the cockpit of the Hawaii-bound commercial flight.
Family and friends remembered the mother and daughter who died in the San Bruno gas pipeline explosion at a funeral Mass in San Francisco today.
Thousands of people showed up for performances, police demonstrations, classic cars and food at Orange Memorial Park.
PG&E says the gas line, which is part of the same line of pipe that exploded in San Bruno, is safe, and has requested new funding to replace it in 2013.
PG&E says that this portion of pipeline, part of the same line that exploded in San Bruno last week, was checked for leaks on Friday and is safe.
Members of Cub Scout Pack 290 are organizing community resources to help the family of a member who lost his sister.
John Muir Elementary School offers counseling for students, but a San Mateo County Health Department therapist says reassurance and routine are key to getting children through trauma.
Scene is emotional as reality of what happened sinks in. Red Cross shelter set up for residents. Evacuation point also set up at Bayhill Shopping Center.
Let us know what questions you have for the board, and we'll ask them at the meeting.
Theresa Muscat still hasn't been able to return to the house she's lived in since 1974.
Z de la Cruz tried to repeatedly to reach his mother and sister's home bordering Crestmoor Canyon.
As police, firefighters, elected officials and residents remembered the loss of 9/11, thoughts turned to victims of the San Bruno fire.
All have been released and are now recovering in good condition.