jimw@patch.com
415.948.8919
San Francisco, CA
Bio: Born and raised in Philadelphia. Went to journalism school at Syracuse University, where I met the love of my life and learned the craft. Moved to the Bay Area nearly 15 years ago with several high school friends with open-ended plans to start careers and dig deeply into the incredible beauty and culture of the Bay Area. Not leaving. I love where I grew up and am always thrilled to go back, but my roots are here now, and they are deep. I love music, basketball, food, travel, and laughing as often as possible. We had a daughter this year, and I am over the moon.
Professionally, it's been a little bit of everything over the years, from doe-eyed sports reporter to music editor to newspaper and online reporter of many stripes. It's simple, really: whether it's the high school phenom or the 85-year-old who can still throw verbal haymakers with the best of them, I love telling people's stories.
Politics
I'm a registered Democrat who believes in fiscal conservatism unless you're dealt a ridiculously bad hand and have to spend your way out. I believe we're all created equal and should be treated as such. Pragmatic empathy is possible, and government is a much-needed, if often mismanaged, force for good in the world.
Religion
I was raised Roman Catholic in a comically large Irish Catholic family. I've drifted from the church quite a bit since then for a number of reasons, but I still hold dear the people and values that were a part of that upbringing.
Local Hot-Button Issues
After a rough economic stretch for downtown business, Mill Valley is in the midst of a push to stimulate downtown business. That effort must be willing to innovate but also strike a balance between promoting downtown business and retaining the town's inimitable character.
The city must remain vigilant on issues of emergency preparedness, vegetation management and evacuation planning. Despite an improving real estate market, the city should strive for a more affordable housing market.
With its Miller Avenue Streetscape plan and all of its road projects, the city should try to promote alternative forms of transit throughout town.
On this annual day of service in conjunction with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we highlight recent honorees for outstanding contributions to the community.
With 46,000 clubs and 1.35 million members, the Lions Club has been doing service work all over the world for nearly 100 years. Where is this sign located?
From sporting events to pep rallies, Joe Rico knows how to work the crowd.
Backed by a slew of local partners, including Bob Weir, long-in-the-works new music venue and café hopes to revitalize both downtown and the local music scene.
An injury to a key player thrusts standout freshman Malik Huff into the starting lineup for the Red-tailed Hawks as they take on Drake tonight.
This week's roundup of recent police activity includes vandalism, a teen reported missing and a number of stolen bikes.
Two-day event at a number of San Francisco waterfront sites hopes to avoid the overwhelming surge of bridge visitors that accompanied the 50th anniversary.
On the heels of a year-long stint as mayor and winning Mill Valley Patch’s 2011 Person of the Year award, Ken Wachtel says he’s having the time of his life.
The 38.5-mile first phase of the project stretches between Santa Rosa and the Marin Civic Center. Contract for section to downtown San Rafael to be awarded in the spring.
Citing insufficient noticing, city officials delay the Planning Commission's meeting scheduled for Monday, which included a hearing on the deli chain's application to move into downtown Mill Valley.
Take a look back at the top stories of the past week in each category on Mill Valley Patch.
Calling the decision bittersweet, councilwoman cites potential future conflict as her community choice aggregation nonprofit eyes for-profit work.
As City Hall embarks on its update of the 23-year-old General Plan, its speedy timeline is based on the assumption that the town's core values haven't changed much since 1989. So let's hear it: have they?
Although expansion of popular parking stickers to southern Marin residents hasn’t boosted sales, city officials said program is doing exactly what it intended: keep local residents shopping here.
Southern Marin Fire paramedics transport 36-year-old man with multiple injuries, including broken ribs and a collapsed lung, following Wednesday evening high-speed tumble.
Pipeline feeding into gym needs to be replaced, so the school’s main building will have no heat through Friday morning.
Former teacher and lover of the arts is survived by his wife, four children, 10 grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.
The lingering recession has much to do with the “True Cost of Oil,” says Lisa Margonelli, who appears at a First Friday event this week.
Sonoma's state representatives see a number of bills they introduced go into effect Jan. 1.
Marin's state representatives see a number of bills they introduced go into effect Jan. 1.