I was just 19, and still at Golden West College, when I was hired by the Los Angeles Times Orange County edition for the lowliest job in the newsroom: clerk. Apart from being asked to get a fake ID so I could buy the night copy desk beer and pizza, and to keep wives and girlfriends on different phone lines, I was ecstatic: A college sophomore, actually working at one of the three great newspapers in the country as a teenager. I did my homework in the newsroom on weekends in the event big news broke and they'd need a reporter so bad that they'd send the college newspaper student to pinch hit. And I did.
I cut my teeth on the police beat and still love breaking news, but also grew into a better writer by learning from some of the best in the country. After two decades at a newspaper, and having to commute three hours daily to L.A., I opted to reinvent myself as a more focused mom and wife and learn more about online writing. I also had more time to volunteer, and enjoy the outdoors around me.
I am a native Southern Californian, born in Whittier, where I grew up swimming in pools, building go-karts and playing kick-the-can. One thing I love about Belmont Shore is that I can be outdoors and have so many places to be. I love to swim and do laps at the Belmont Plaza Pool, float on Alamitos Bay or cycle down the bike path to the Long Beach Museum of Art. Movies are something my son and I love to do together, followed by an hour or more reading at a bookstore. I also try to meet a minimum weekly quota of one double-double, no cheese.
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 you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you 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
Knowledge is power, and people need to understand how decisions are made in their community and how they can participate.
I believe in government for the people and by the people, and that public officials should do what they promise. I also believe that citizens have to work harder to ensure that they do. This is where Patch journalism will be key.
Religion
I believe in God. When I hear Gospel music in church or in concert, I feel God.
Local Hot-Button Issues
Balancing the rights of residents, visitors and businesses. Public safety. Traffic, particularly along Second Street into the intersection with Pacific Coast Highway. The future of the Los Cerritos Wetlands.
Fundraiser for Long Beach's Hearts for Hounds founder and volunteer, arrested together earlier this year for having more than 100 dogs crated in U-Haul and SUV en route to new homes, set for Sunday.
Live results from the Los Angeles County Registrar.
Republicans Steve Kuykendall and Steve Foley say he's failed to explain possible misuse of city email and criticize his character.
Candidate for the U.S. 47th Congressional District says it wasn't raised during his last-minute townhall, but hours later offers a broad denial of violating any laws.
Cause of the Long Beach Airport crash last year remains under investigation but feds released report with details on the tragic flight that claimed its pilot and 4 local businessmen and gravely hurt a 5th.
Storied ship is met off the coast Wednesday by a media boat and 2 emotional veterans.
The storied battleship USS Iowa is met off Long Beach Wednesday by a media boat, and two emotional veterans.
This is the unedited, actual flight history posted on the NTSB website under accident report investigations. It pertains to the March 16, 2011 crash that killed five businessmen and injured a sixth.
Candidate holds town hall Thursday, says he'll field queries about investigations of complaints that his campaign uses Long Beach staff to tap residents' e-mail they give for city business.
Storied battleship is met off Long Beach Wednesday by a media boat, and two emotional veterans.
A despondent man is reportedly being evaluated after Wednesday incident.
Storied battleship is met off Long Beach Wednesday by a media boat, and 2 emotional veterans.
Retired deputy city attorney files complaint with District Attorney asserting the councilman used taxpayer-supported office e-mail and resources to send election material.
The two sisters were found uninjured at 1:30 p.m. today.
Long Beach Poly High star Brian Banks' pro career was lost when he was sent to prison for raping a girl on campus. But she recanted her claim.
Some of restaurant-bar's neighbors seek City of Long Beach help over recent fights, beer poster in the window of a nearby home. Dogz owner counters that he's living close to solve problems.
Hailed by colleagues but a lightning rod for student and faculty protests as state budget cuts have led to tuition and executive pay hikes, Reed has led the 23-college system for 14 years.
The vessel is thought to have been derelict, and Coast Guard said nobody was aboard.
Though arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of an officer and resisting arrest, Kameron Branch, 23, was only charged with assault with a deadly weapon in the Sunday night scuffle.
Said to be the country's first park named after the slain gay rights leader - and Long Beach's first with an LGBT namesake - was celebrated Tuesday, along with the honoring of nine leaders.
