Email: kelly.hartog@patch.com
Hometown: I have several. I was born in London but was raised in Australia. I consider Sydney just one of my home towns, along with Jerusalem, Israel, where I lived for 11 years, and I also consider Los Angeles home too.
Birthday: June 13.
Bio: I received my Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, History and Media Studies at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia before moving to Jerusalem where Ispent 10 years as a reporter and editor for The Jerusalem Post for both the daily paper, the local weekend section and as the radio news director. I covered local politics, arts, entertainment and wrote a weekly op-ed column on the city. I spent 2000-2004 covering the height of the Palestinian Intifada. After surviving an Al Qaeda suicide bombing attack on November 28, 2002, while on assignment for The Jerusalem Post in Mombasa, Kenya, I moved to Los Angeles in 2004. I spent time covering the City of Beverly Hills for the Beverly Hills Courier and freelancing for a variety of publications before taking on a job as a stringer for The New York Post and the Daily Mail.
On Nov. 28, 2010 (8 years to the day of the Al Qaeda attack), my adorable Golden Retriever puppy Bronte (named after Charlotte, not Emily)was born, and helped me get over the loss of my precious Golden Retriever, Bridget, who passed away in the summer of 2010 at the age of 13 and a half.
Before becoming a journalist, I trod the boards as an actress and theatre director and established and ran Israel's only professional English Language theatre company.
My 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?
Depends which country I'm in. Definitely more right leaning in Israel, but more left leaning in America.
Are you registered with a certain party?
No. As a non-American citizen, I'm unable to. However, if I could, I would register as a Democrat.
Religion
How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)
I was raised in a traditional Jewish home, attended an Orthodox Jewish day school and lived in the most Orthodox Jewish city in the world - Jerusalem. I consider myself an involved, committed, observant Jew. I am an active member of my Jewish community, IKAR, and I believe in the Jewish value of "tikkun olam" - repairing the world through social justice through a basic understanding that all people - no matter their religion or creed are created equal, and that religious values and helping the community must go hand in hand. There cannot be one without the other.
A new organization – Airport2Park.org - will host a workshop tonight, just four days after the crash at SMO. The vision is to replace SMO with a park to benefit all residents on the Westside.
Santa Monica Police officers discovered a knife and cocaine in Jannette Chaidez’s car after she was pulled over for a missing license plate.
Los Angeles' first reported cases of the flu are already popping up.
Ceremonies will be held at all four Santa Monica stations at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday morning.
LA Streetsblog gets up close and personal with the Santa Monica Bike Center, which is proving to be a boon to the City and the business alike.
As promised, CD 11 Councilman Mike Bonin was up bright and early Tuesday morning to take part in the LACBC and LA Walks Bike and Ped Count.
A group of local architects and engineers challenge the Santa Monica City Council, “Why are you letting a handful of developers and their architects ruin the city you represent and we live in and love?”
Robert Hans Schenk, 52, pleaded guilty to using investments in his businesses to pay for personal expenses, including his Palisades home.
Felipe Feliciano Lopez was charged with assault with a deadly weapon when he used an empty wine bottle to hit his lover over the head.
Ron Hirsch, 62, died Aug. 24 at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, N.C.
Former Democratic Rep. Mel Levine said the DWP manages “two of the most important areas that affect every one of our lives.”
The Neighbors of St. Matthews Homeowners Group says St. Matthews’ CUP changes are misleading.
The 6.2 acre Tongva Park cost $42.3 million.
Here are five things to know in Santa Monica today.
Here are five things to know in Pacific Palisades today.
On Tues. Sept. 10 at 7:30 a.m., CD 11 Councilman Mike Bonin will meet with volunteers to collect data on pedestrians and cyclists at key intersections in West L.A.
Animated signs for public and school safety only, will be discussed at Tuesday night’s meeting.
The Santa Monica City Council rejected 5-1, the Rem Koolhaas mixed used development as currently presented to its members on Aug. 27.
The Los Angeles mayor is waiting to see if he will be put into a jury pool or assigned to a case.
Tools were stolen from a home on N. La Casas Avenue after the suspect crawled through an open dog door.
