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.
A San Rafael teenager pleaded not guilty in Marin County Superior Court this morning to stealing celebrity chef Guy Fieri's yellow Lamborghini from a San Francisco dealership last year and shooting into an occupied vehicle in Mill Valley this April.
Both sides in longstanding battle affirm ruling as a validation of their positions.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors throws its support behind a state bill to require parents to get a letter from their pediatrician before they can receive a “personal belief exemption.”
State Board of Equalization includes businesses in the 94941 zip code for door-to-door inspections.
In taking a look at possible capital improvement projects to fund next year, city officials get an earful from longtime advocates for upgrading the city’s tennis courts.
Check out this photo of the sun rising in the east from atop Mount Tam.
With the children's show store set to close June 29 after less than a year in business, what would you like to see open in the space at the edge of downtown?
Photographer Arnie Battaglene has been experimenting with macro photography as "a way to explore the world of bugs and all things small and alien to our scale of life."
As we approach our two-year anniversary, we'll be hosting open office hours for residents to tell us what they think of Mill Valley Patch and how it can get better. The first Stop and Chat is Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Depot Cafe.
City Council begins the final stages of approving a shift to flow-based sewer rates Monday night, as well as an additional rate hike and the use of bond financing.
Patch is relaunching our Readers' Choice series and we want you to nominate the best hair salons in Novato. We'll compile the nominees, put it to a vote in July and find out which is the Readers’ Choice 2012 winner.
Patch is relaunching our Readers' Choice series and we want you to nominate the best entries in 25 categories, some in Novato and some across all Marin Patch towns and cities. See the list below and post your nominees in the Comments section.
Despite being one of the wealthiest cities in California, Novato is chock full of great thrift and consignment shops. As we relaunch our Readers' Choice series, we want you to nominate the best thrift shops in town.
Patch is relaunching our Readers' Choice series and we want you to nominate the best hair salons in Mill Valley. We'll compile the nominees, put it to a vote in July and find out which is the Readers’ Choice 2012 winner.
Patch is relaunching our Readers' Choice series and we want you to nominate the best bookstores in Marin Patch towns. We'll compile the nominees, put it to a vote in July and find out which is the Readers’ Choice 2012 winner.
Patch is relaunching our Readers' Choice series and we want you to nominate the best pet supply stores in Mill Valley. We'll compile the nominees, put it to a vote in July and find out which is the Readers’ Choice 2012 winner.
From the bike and pedestrian improvements in Tam Valley to the much-debated sidewalk in Homestead Valley, mobility was on the mind this week. Take a look back at the most popular stories from the past week.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District asks people to park the car at least two days a week during the summer.
Marin's unemployment rate, the lowest in the state, is getting lower.
Despite being one of the wealthiest cities in California, Mill Valley is chock full of great thrift and consignment shops. As we relaunch our Readers' Choice series, we want you to nominate the best thrift shops in the 94941.