Email: eric.yates@patch.com
Phone: (619) 204-2985
Hometowns: Born in Roanoke, VA. Took a 15-year detour to Colorado Springs, CO, and returned to Roanoke when he was 16. Came to San Diego to attend Point Loma Nazarene University and has been here ever since.
Birthday: Dec. 12
Bio: Eric has been a working San Diego journalist for the past 11 years, for media outlets like the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego News Network, San Diego Magazine, and the San Diego Community Newspaper Group. He began work as editor of Mount Helix Patch in August 2010 and became editor of the combined La Mesa-Mount Helix Patch in March 2012. He succeeded Ken Stone as editor of La Mesa Patch. Ken became associate regional editor for south San Diego County, overseeing six Patch sites.
Eric love sports - both as a participant and an observer, and enjoys playing basketball, golf, tennis and football. He is married and loves cooking with his beautiful wife (how's that for brownie points?) He has got a deadly jump shot, and a quick wit, and enjoys telling stories. He prays to the altar of Dean Edwards Smith and the North Carolina Tar Heels, and cried the day George Harrison died.
Beliefs
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 you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you 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.
Politics
How would you describe your political beliefs?
I am a moderate conservative, and believe in a free market, family values, conservation, and trying to help those who can't (not won't) help themselves. Also, if that makes me a libertarian, so be it!
Are you registered with a certain party?
Registered Republican, but rarely vote along party lines. I try to vote for whomever I believe can make the most impact in office in a given time frame.
Religion
How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)
I am a devout Christian and believe that the love of Jesus Christ changed the world. I also believe it is the responsibility of his followers to try and show that same love. I'm no radical, and believe that there are appropriate and responsible ways to share His truth, outside of Bible thumping.
Local Hot-Button Issues
What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?
Rising water rates, fire service and protection, challenges in public schools.
Where do you stand on each of these issues?
I'm for families, safety, and well-being, not necessarily issues. I support any measure that will imporve people's livelihood, whether it be financially, socially, physically, or security-wise.
The “smash and grab” occurred at 2:10 a.m. when La Mesa police were notified by the store’s alarm company that glass was broken.
The La Mesa elementary schools were among 40 from around San Diego County and 387 across the state to be honored by the state Department of Education.
SDG&E reported 98 customers without electricity, as of Thursday morning, in areas of Rancho San Diego, Casa de Oro, Jamacha, Jamul, Indian Springs, La Presa and Spring Valley due to a problem with underground equipment
Helix Charter High School is offering the opportunity to enroll in one of the highest-performing charter schools in San Diego County. The event is at 6 p.m. in the school's gymnasium.
The event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is free and open to the whole family, and will feature vendors, musical acts, artists from local schools, food, children's activities, guest speakers, and of course, breath-taking views from atop of San Diego.
Cara Day says she closed Day-McKellar Preparatory School after losing 15 of her 85 students.
The Safety Handbook contains tips, information and resources to assist citizens in preventing crime and preparing for regional emergencies and disasters.
Five previously funded public service agencies were left with nothing from the city for fiscal 2012.
How do you know what City Council will discuss this week? Check in here.
The bulletin will be available on the City’s website and updated every Monday morning after 10 a.m.
The weekly Readers' Choice polls highlight the best La Mesa-Mount Helix has to offer in every imaginable topic.
Resident writes of the the intersection at Palm and Allison, "The traffic calming bump outs and the redirecting of the street runoff through the "creek" to filter out contaminants was a great move."
Beginning March 26, a committee appointed by the San Miguel Fire Protection District will review the proposal submitted by CAL FIRE to determine if it meets a series of pre-established metrics, or minimum standards.
Neil Mashruwala, 10, has a lofty list of accomplishments already, including software developer and entrepreneur.
31 batteries stolen in less than two months, sold for scrap at recycling center, and a group of five suspects arrested, including Jacob William Lippert, 18, from La Mesa.
The weekly Readers' Choice polls highlight the best La Mesa-Mount Helix has to offer in every imaginable topic.
Malarkey, has appeared on the popular morning program before, including Labor Day in 2011.
John Frederick Garner was arrested Friday at the Spring Valley home he shares with his wife.
The center is designed as a place to "bridge the digital divide" that may exist with some people in the Spring Valley area.
A citizen gave detailed descriptions of the suspects, which helped lead to their arrests.