Newark|News|
Five Stories to Watch in 2014
From schools to crime to the next mayor, Patch looks ahead to the new year.

The Basics
Email: paul.milo@patch.com
Phone: 973-204-3548
Hometown: The Ironbound, Newark
Birthday: October 18, 1969
Bio
Paul Milo, co-editor of Newark Patch, studied philosophy at Montclair State University immediately prior to starting in journalism in 1998. Milo, a Lodi native, has spent his entire career covering Essex County communities. He has won nearly a dozen state press awards, including an award for a story debunking rumors that coffee shop workers were seen celebrating immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks and another award for an editorial critical of questionable campaign tactics used during a local election. His freelance work has appeared in several publications, including Editor and Publisher, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Gizmodo.com. His first book, Your Flying Car Awaits: Robot Butlers, Lunar Vacations and Other Dead Wrong Predictions of the 20th Century, was published in November 2009 by HarperCollins. He has been interviewed about his book on WNYC radio's Brian Lehrer show, by The New York Times and on Canadian television, among other outlets. In his spare time Milo likes to hike and fish in the wilds of western Jersey. He also obsessively jots down story ideas for Patch on any scrap of paper available.
Your Beliefs 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 them to inject their beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that their beliefs are on the record will cause them 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. Politics How would you describe your political beliefs?
Like a lot of people of my generation and younger, I'm not wedded to either of the major political parties - I'm a classic swing voter. I tend to support candidates who talk to me like I'm an adult, who are fiscally responsible and who respect every American's right to conduct their private lives however they see fit.
Are you registered with a certain party?
No, but I vote. Religion How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)
A thorough answer would be very long, so for the sake of brevity I'll just say this: I try to live my life by the precept "Do unto others as you would have done unto you." Local Hot-Button Issues What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?
So, so many here in Newark, but for the sake of selecting one I'd say managing development in such a way that working families are not eventually priced out of the city.
Where do you stand on each of these issues?
Newark has to do things differently than other cities that simply allowed gentriication and correspondingly high rents that squeezed out the working class. Many might look at Newark today and scoff, but a lof of areas in the region - Hoboken, parts of Brooklyn - were once where Newark is today in terms of development. Newark should remain a place that's not only culturally diverse but socioeconomically as well.
From schools to crime to the next mayor, Patch looks ahead to the new year.

Details are expected to be released at a Tuesday afternoon press conference.
The Monk Room to be modeled after Asbury Park's famed Porta
State agency in the process of building or upgrading other schools in district.
'Season of Giving' included gifts of coats, food and more.
Duo scammed state out of nearly $600,000
Newark, Irvington men charged with murder, conspiracy, carjacking
Changes come to the state's largest district amid organized protest
2013 saw much change in the commercial life of the city.
Hundreds of tons of contaminated soil removed from playground
South Plainfield officer was victim of robbery attempt outside Elizabeth strip club.
Center chosen from among 500 other facilities
Many Newark schools are more than 100 years old.
Councilman and former Central High principal Ras Baraka says reorganization will hurt students.
From politics to crime to schools, an eventful 12 months in Brick City.
Team makes contribution supporting visual arts instruction
Drug raid, 29-year-old fatally shot and historic firehouse reopens also make headlines.