<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.
A San Bruno woman launched the online petition in response to the commission's recent decision to suspend its hearings on the PG&E penalty case stemming from the 2010 San Bruno fire.
Where in San Bruno do you find the best loot and the safest walk?
The coroner's office said today that it could not yet confirm the pilot's identity. The pilot's wife reported the aircraft missing on Monday when it did not show up on schedule at an airport near Tuscon, AZ, its intended destination.
Officers found a male laying unconscious in the front yard of a home on Dell Road after responding to an emergency call about a disturbance at the home.
The group delivered a formal letter to the CPUC on Wednesday to protest the recent appointment of former Sen. George Mitchell, who, according to the city of San Bruno and others, was chosen without the input or consent of anyone except PG&E.
The judge overseeing the case allowed for more time because of new discovery of the use of a Taser during the melee. The fight left one officer with a concussion and two others with black eyes and multiple bruises.
Mayor Jim Ruane, Assemblyman Jerry Hill and others say the decision to appoint a former U.S. senator to help mediate talks about the PG&E penalty case was a "backroom deal between the CPUC and PG&E."
The following information was supplied by the San Bruno Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
In issuing the preliminary decision about PG&E's proposed gas pipeline safety plan, the CPUC said this is only the beginning of a permanent change that has to take place with PG&E and other pipeline operators throughout the state.
In issuing the preliminary decision about PG&E's proposed gas pipeline safety plan, the CPUC said this is only the beginning of a permanent change that has to take place with PG&E and other pipeline operators throughout the state.
If Prop. 30 fails, school districts will be forced to engage in another, and in many cases much worse, round of cutbacks. We must support Prop. 30 for this election.
In issuing the preliminary decision about PG&E's proposed gas pipeline safety plan, the CPUC said this is only the beginning of a permanent change that has to take place with PG&E and other pipeline operators throughout the state.
Supporters of the parcel tax have begun placing signs around the city to spread the word about the Yes on Measure G campaign.
The mediator, a former U.S. senator, is expected to push the proceedings along quicker so that residents in San Bruno can receive justice for the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion, the CPUC president said.
With the release of the new statewide test results, the numbers show that all schools except for one had above an 800 API, score, and Belle Air Elementary—a school that has been in PI for years—was one of the schools to score above an 800.
In issuing the preliminary decision about PG&E's proposed gas pipeline safety plan, the CPUC said this is only the beginning of a permanent change that has to take place with PG&E and other pipeline operators throughout the state.
In issuing the preliminary decision about PG&E's proposed gas pipeline safety plan, the state's public utility commission said this is only the beginning of a permanent change that has to take place with PG&E and other pipeline opera
Police believe the attempted burglary could be related to a similar incident that occurred last month.
In issuing the preliminary decision about PG&E's proposed gas pipeline safety plan, the state's public utility commission said this is only the beginning of a permanent change that has to take place with PG&E and other pipeline opera
In issuing the preliminary decision about PG&E's proposed gas pipeline safety plan, the CPUC said this is only the beginning of a permanent change that has to take place with PG&E and other pipeline operators throughout the state.