<b>Hometown:</b> Hayward, Calif.
<b>Birthday: </b>Jan. 19
<b>Bio: </b>I'm a true Bay Area native. I grew up in Hayward and attended public schools there through high school, then attended UC Berkeley twice—the first time for my B.A., the second time for my master's in multimedia journalism. While most of my experience comes from living in the East Bay, I approach the majority of things with a perspective that appreciates the entire Bay Area, knowing that I've been influenced by the diversity that truly exists across this region.
My journalism experience has been pretty much grounded in community journalism. Since I've been a reporter, I've covered local news in Berkeley, San Francisco, Fremont, and I spent two years covering San Leandro and general assignment stories for The Daily Review in Hayward.
As a graduate student, I helped launch a hyperlocal news website in Oakland. And although the Bay Area has always found a way to keep pulling me back, I had the opportunity to write on the Metro desk for The Washington Post. I also had the privilege of reporting on the global food crisis in Rome and reporting on youth and agriculture in Sierra Leone while I was a student at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism.
<b>Beliefs:</b><br><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 and human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal certain key beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. <br><br>This disclosure is not a license for our editors to inject these 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 force us to be ever mindful to write, report, and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you, the user, ever think you see evidence that we failed in this mission, we wholeheartedly invite you to let us know.</i><br><br><b>Politics</b>
<i>How would you describe your political beliefs?</i>
In terms of politics, I tend to lean on both sides of the fence, depending on the issue.
<b>Religion</b>
<i>How religious would you say you are? Casual, observant, devout, non-religious?</i>
As a Christian, I don't limit my relationship to God to one day a week. I try to live it through everything I do.
<b>Local Hot Button Issues</b>
<i>What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?</i>
The most important issue in San Bruno right now is the Caltrain grade separation project. The city has been waiting a long time for the project to start, and when it does people will be scrutinizing it because it will change the landscape of the city. Not only will the project result in a new overpass for trains in downtown, but it will also replace the current Caltrain station at Sylvan Avenue, it will have a direct result on the revitalization of the main downtown corridor, and it will essentially create a big wall separating the city.
Related to that issue is what to do about downtown San Bruno. The city has just put together a plan to redevelop its downtown corridor, with the hope of making it more pedestrian-friendly, using mixed-development to drive commerce and increasing the height limits of buildings. The plan has the potential to make or break the entire downtown area.
<i><i>Where do you stand on each of these issues?</i></i>
The grade separation project seems like it has many implications for the future of San Bruno. If it works, it addresses a number of issues all at once, including traffic, public safety and tax revenue. What seems to be clear is the vision for what city officials, residents and business owners want to see happen. But there will be many unknowns that could catch people off-guard, mostly once construction begins. The city and the company overseeing the project will have to do any extremely good job of managing the project to keep people happy and confident that the project will stay true to the vision.
In terms of the downtown area, I think the city's plan is a bit too ambitious. When you walk or drive down San Mateo Avenue, you get a sense that there is a lack of cohesion among the stores that are there. And when you talk to businesses, some owners say they don't feel like city officials understand their concerns. However, it's good to have a plan and change, for the most part, is good. We'll just have to see which vision downtown San Bruno follows and whether everyone can truly work together to bring it all together.
The following information was supplied by the San Bruno Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
San Bruno Patch Editor Martin Ricard ranks his top five favorite Thanksgiving flicks. What are yours?
The City Council will be taking a vote at its Tuesday meeting whether to hire a Houston-based firm to oversee any additional pipeline work PG&E plans in the city.
Some say unrealistic goals set by the federal government could pose a challenge for the San Bruno Park School District as it tries to exit program improvement.
The seventh-grade boys baseball team from St. Robert's Catholic School recently won first place in the Peninsula Parishes/Schools League tournament, defeating the No. 1 seed in the championship game.
A look back at the week's news.
A roundup of the best YouTube videos of the week, featuring videos just from and about San Bruno.
The following information was supplied by the San Bruno Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
More than 200 coats were distributed during the Coats for Kids event.
In all, 79 schools throughout the Bay Area were honored by the banking company.
Mayor Jim Ruane, City Manager Connie Jackson and others are expected to give the local perspective at the Pipeline Safety Trust's annual conference about how the city was affected by the pipeline explosion.
San Bruno Park schools Superintendent David Hutt answers questions many parents have raised about the school boundary discussions and attempts to dispel any myths about what enrollment could look like next year.
The following information was supplied by the San Bruno Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
While the City Council made three new appointments, it deferred making any changes to two committees that have struggled to stay active because of a lack of membership.
The upgrades are part of an $11 million effort to repair and rebuild the infrastructure damaged by the Sept. 9, 2010, pipeline explosion and fire.
A look back at the week's news.
Speakers at the annual ceremony stressed that the sacrifices of those who have served in the U.S. armed forces should not be forgotten or taken for granted.
Speakers at the annual ceremony stressed that the sacrifices of those who have served in the U.S. armed forces should not be forgotten or taken for granted.
As a way to thank military service men and women this Veterans Day, area merchants welcome them for free meals.
As a way to thank military service men and women this Veterans Day, merchants in San Bruno welcome them for free meals.
