<strong>Email: </strong>brad.wong@patch.com<strong><br></strong>
<strong>Phone: </strong>425-440-1796<strong><br></strong>
<strong>Hometown: </strong>Sunnyvale, Calif.<strong><br></strong>
<strong>Age: </strong>42<strong><br></strong>
<strong>Bio: </strong>
Brad Wong started his journalism career riding a knobby-tired bike and tossing newspapers on subscribers' porches. These days, he disseminates news through keyboard touches to computers and smart phones. Wireless devices are always nearby. He's convinced the world changes.
From 2002 to 2009, he worked as a reporter at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, where he covered breaking news, business and the suburbs. Over his career, he has investigated human trafficking and smuggling, interviewed the Dalai Lama, chronicled presidential visits and written about people falling in love at cemeteries.
He studied American Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz and international affairs at Columbia University. He graduated from both universities. In China, he completed a 1,200-mile solo mountain bike trek. In his garage, he has an old red metal P-I newspaper box to remind him of when bulky, industrial-strength containers once held the news of the moment. He enjoys tofu, especially when used in Chinese cooking, and playing ping pong.
He and his family live on the Eastside.<br><br><b>Your Beliefs</b><br>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. <br><br><b>Politics </b><br>How would you describe your political beliefs?<br>Are you registered with a certain party?
I believe that a community's strength relies on the participation and awareness of the people who live in it. That is one definition of democracy and it is a major force in guiding my political beliefs. I recognize that representative and participatory models of democracy have pluses and minuses. I certainly appreciate the freedoms afforded to us in the United States.
I am registered with a political party. But I believe in nonpartisan journalism and that partisanship is just one part of life. I'm also a bit of an old-school journalist. I try and follow the adage of understanding an idea that might be the opposite of what I believe or know. One benefit: I get to learn something new.
<br><b>Religion</b><br>How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)
I am not religious. But I am interested in religion. I have to be. Part of my job is to understand the world around me. In 1994, a friend and I were traveling in a Tibetan area of China. We met a young Tibetan Buddhist monk who talked about his beliefs and ideas floating in his mind. I still remember that conversation to this day.<br><b><br>Local Hot-Button Issues</b><br>What do you think are the most important issues facing the community? Where do you stand on each of these issues?<br><br>It's actually a good time to observe and ask questions about Sammamish. Development will remain a big issue in the coming years, as will open space and how a community deals with its rural past and its suburban environment.
The economy will remain a hot topic. It is not only a local issue. It touches just about every place in the country.
I try to stand in the middle on issues and talk with as many people as possible who have points of view about them. Why? I'm able to learn something new.
The students are among the 15,000 or so who receive the prestigious honor. They are qualified to receive scholarships.
Residents visited the fair on Saturday to learn about having enough water and supplies in case of an emergency or disaster.
The Sammamish news cycle continued to churn this past week - and news continued to pop here and there.
City Councilman Mark Cross wants to spend more time with his family and he has just accepted a new full-time position with the city of Bellevue. Earlier in April, City Councilwoman Michele Petitti said she was stepping down from her elected office.
An estimated 1,200 people drove their cars, trucks, vans and SUVs to Eastlake High School on Saturday to safely dispose of computers, TVs, cardboard and other items.
Stephen Royse of All Battery helped recycle batteries Saturday at Eastlake High School and talked about what he has found on the job.
They waved U.S. flags and called for lower taxes and a stricter interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.
Lake Washington officials say they are waiting to see the compromise budget bill — and know there are fewer public dollars for the schools.
Lake Washington and Issaquah district leaders say they are waiting to see the compromise budget bill - and know there are fewer public dollars for the schools.
Officials in both districts that serve Sammamish said they are waiting to see the compromise budget bill - and know there are fewer public dollars for the schools.
Crossroads Bellevue will be a stop on musician Chris Ballew's tour of local kid-friendly venues and libraries.
This regular real estate feature in Sammamish Patch lets buyers get a sense of what the market has to offer.
The lead custodian has worked to make sure the Sammamish school has a recycling rate of 55 percent.
The city of Sammamish's second public meeting about whether to build a community center and swimming facilities was held Monday.
Online voting ends on Monday, April 11. The school sent an email out, asking for community members to vote for Jeremy Kim's packet design.
The boy was taken to the hospital and the King County Sheriff's helicopter searched to see if anyone was in the woods.
There also was police news and a City Councilmember announced she was going to step down.
While the median amount is not as high as some figures last year, it is a 4.5 percent increase from the year-ago period. Sales appear to be up from March 2009.
The city is encouraging residents to attend, as the process for a community center - which might include swimming facilities - continues.
A resident who lives near the "T" intersection spotted weeds one day in the area. She decided to make a change.
