• Aaron SelverstonPatch Staff Verified Patch Staff Badge

  • Palo Alto, CA

<b>E-mail: aarons&#64;patch.com</b><b> <br> Phone: 650-219-9731<br> Hometown: San Diego, CA<br> Birthday: July 10 </b>

I&#39;m the editor of Palo Alto Patch and joined this company, in part, because I believe it is paving the way for the future of journalism. I have worked in video, radio and print and my stories have appeared on NPR, CNN, Salon.com and PBS/Frontline. I shared a Polk Award for climate change coverage and a Peabody Award for my participation in coverage of the killing of an unarmed passenger by a BART police officer. I graduated from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism in 2006.

My attraction to journalism was born out of two ideals: to do good in the world and for myself. Journalism provides me both a creative outlet and a sense of service.

Philosophically, I believe in Durkheim&#39;s notion of &#39;social facts,&#39; not Hume&#39;s relativist view of human consciousness. The effect of socialization on citizens in a democracy requires social actors, such as journalists, to do their part to keep government and other institutions of power in check.

<b>Politics </b><i> </i>

As Thomas Jefferson said: &#34;If once the people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves.&#34;

<b>Religion</b><i> <br></i>

I am a disciple of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster .

<strong>Local Hot Button Issues</strong>

High-speed rail seems to be the most volatile issue in town right now, but the school calendar, traffic congestion, the landfill closure, the airport&#39;s future and green tech are all huge.

Posting Activity

Palo Alto|News|

Palo Alto Sues High-Speed Rail Authority

Joins coalition of plaintiffs including cities and nonprofit groups. Wants Environmental Impact Report rescinded, ridership forecast tossed out.

Palo Alto Sues High-Speed Rail Authority
Palo Alto|News|

Palo Alto To Sue High-Speed Rail Authority

The decision was made during the closed session following a public no-confidence vote; lawsuit will try to derail statewide project.

Palo Alto To Sue High-Speed Rail Authority