Joshua Staab, Patch Staff

Joshua Staab is a multimedia journalist and graduate of California State University, Sacramento. He has freelanced for a variety of Sacramento-based newspapers and magazines and was most recently writing full-time for a healthcare and medical liability trade publication in the Bay Area. While a student at Sacramento State, Joshua served in many capacities on the college's student-run newspaper, The State Hornet. 

Joshua grew up in Fair Oaks. He attended Bella Vista High School where he became active in many extracurricular activities, including life-long passions for journalism, music, filmmaking and snowboarding. He continues to explore those passions in his spare time, often combining all of them.

Have an issue or concern on your mind? Feel free to contact Josh anytime. He can be reached via e-mail at joshua.staab@patch.com or by phone at 916-494-1790.

<strong>Your Beliefs </strong>

<i>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 us to inject our beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will cause us 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.</i>

<strong>Politics</strong>

How would you describe your political beliefs?

As a child I was always encouraged to come to my own conclusions when it came to religion and politics. Though I grew up in a fairly middle-of-the road political environment, I would say I fall somewhat in the middle while leaning toward the left on social issues.

Are you registered with a certain party?

I am registered as a decline-to-state voter.

<strong>Religion</strong>

How religious would you consider yourself?

For a portion of my life I attended Catholic school and church in San Francisco and Sacramento, but would consider myself to be spiritual if not devoutly religious. 

<strong>Local Hot-Button Issues</strong>

What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?

Fair Oaks has remained an unincorporated area of Sacramento County since it was established more than 100 years ago. Its residents have watched as its neighboring communities incorporate, including Citrus Heights in 1997, Rancho Cordova in 2003 and Arden-Arcade&#39;s failed attempt in 2010. The community has struggled through hard economic times as a result, never garnering the commercialized tax revenue it requires to become its own city.

Crime has become an increasing concern for the community as the closest Sacramento County Sheriff&#39;s substation resides outside county lines in Citrus Heights. Local mom and pop businesses continue to get by, but the community could benefit from the added tax revenue a large mall might provide.

Where do you stand on each of these issues?

Though I believe the community of Fair Oaks could benefit from incorporation (and it has tried in the past), it should stay under county control. The area simply does not have the local economy or the geographic breadth to support the increased population impact. Furthermore, much of the community&#39;s identity could be compromised by the incorporation into Sacramento, Rancho Cordova or Citrus Heights.

One of the things that keeps Fair Oaks unique is its close community connections with the local businesses, parks and river areas. It&#39;s that sense of community that has kept Fair Oaks together for more than 100 years and hopefully will continue to see it prosper.