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.
Pollice say 25-year-old man forced his way into a Telegraph Hill apartment, forced the 26-year-old female resident, demanded money and sexually assaulted her.
Department seizes rare chance to set a home ablaze several times and run drills to douse it.
Barbara Langford, 75, suffers from dementia and was last seen near Fair Oaks and Sunrise boulevards, according to the Sheriff's department.
The death of a loved one is difficult enough to deal with. Sending out a death notice should not be. That's why Patch allows anyone to post obituaries for free.
Entrants must fill out a form on the San Rafael Democrat's website by midnight Sunday, Jan. 13.
Police have been unable to locate the owner of this safe, found in the Safeway parking lot on Jan. 4.
From the Marin County Kumbaya Patrol and corporate personhood to statues of Yoda and Indiana Jones in downtown San Anselmo, Marin was in the news well beyond its borders this week. Check out the photographic evidence.
Despite proposing a major shift in how public schools are funded that would benefit districts serving low-income communities, the governor-proposed state budget for 2013-14 draws praise.
Despite proposing a major shift in how public schools are funded that would benefit districts serving low-income communities, governor proposed state budget for 2013-14 draws praise.
With inmate population down at San Quentin and prisons across California, legal filing claims that continued enforcement of the population reduction order is now "unfair, unnecessary and illegal."
Pot with an estimated street value of $419,000 was being stored in a Marinship Way, and the man arrested for its possession was apparently living inside the container.
A cold front heading down from Canada will bring icy temps and low snow levels, weather forecasters say. High seasonal tides could also cause flooding in usual trouble spots.
After a fundraising push, officials have nearly $40,000 on hand to pay for $200 for automatic weapons and $100 for other firearms at two buy-back events in conjunction with the birthday and holiday of Martin Luther King Jr.
A cold front heading down from Canada will bring icy temps and low snow levels, weather forecasters say. High seasonal tides could also cause flooding in usual trouble spots.
In introducing a segment on how a wide range of groups are ready to talk about gun control, Jon Stewart juxtaposes the NRA and the peace-loving ways of many Marin-ites.
Martinez family on a holiday hike witnessed the scenic arch tumbling down ion Dec. 29, on the heels of a series of heavy storms.
Painting on Mark Talamantes' law firm site, which was pulled down last Thursday, depicts police officers wearing uniforms with words like "racist," "brutal beating" and "KKK" on them.
CHP says Thomas Umphreys, 48, sustained life-threatening injuries Monday night Toyota Corolla went up an embankment, overturned and landed on its roof. A Mill Valley woman and her 3-year-old daughter suffered minor injuries.
Painting on Mark Talamantes' law firm site, which was pulled down last Thursday, depicts police officers wearing uniforms with words like "racist," "brutal beating" and "KKK" on them.
Two elderly residents died at The Redwoods, with the norovirus a possible contributing factor though not the cause of the deaths. The virus is said to have peaked and is now on the decline
