Email: jessica.hamlin@patch.com
Phone: (626) 354-5042
Hometown: Woodland Hills/Calabasas, CA
Birthday: August 16th

Watch welcome video here!

Bio:

Jessica is a Southern California native who graduated with a B.A. in Journalism from Azusa Pacific University. 

She has written for various publications about news, cuisine, health, entertainment, art, unique people and more.

Jessica's articles have appeared in Pasadena Weekly, LA Downtown News, Pasadena  Magazine, Arroyo Monthly, ValleyLife, eat-la.com, The Pasadena Cosmopolitan and the Arcadia, Monrovia, and Sierra Madre Weekly newspapers. She also contributed to the Thirsty? Los Angeles guidebook. 

When she's not writing, Jessica is likely basking in cuisine and culture at an event, museum, or restaurant. She loves to travel abroad but also considers herself a local tourist. 

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.

 
Politics 
How would you describe your political beliefs?

I hold some fiscally conservative beliefs and a mix of conservative and liberal views on social issues, but I am open and exploring in certain aspects. I like to weigh each issue and candidate individually. I believe many things the two main parties offer sound good in theory but are often corrupted. Also, there are more views and options than just black and white and it can be a full-time job exploring alternatives since they are not as visible.  

 Are you registered with a certain party?

I am a registered Decline-to-State. I can appreciate aspects from various parties, but I find it interesting that a country that touts its freedom usually resorts to putting people in the box of one of two political parties. There are many more views to be heard.

Religion
How religious would you consider yourself? 

I am a Christian and believe faith is not just a part of life or a list of requirements but a deep spiritual encounter and relationship that drives my life every day. Whether I am struggling or succeeding, I strive to keep that faith a priority. It saddens me when people commit acts of hate and intolerance in the name of Christianity. 

Local Hot-Button Issues
What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?

I think education is very important to the community since San Marino schools have achieved the top Academic Performance Index in the state for the past seven years. The commitment to education was further solidified when the district raised millions of dollars to compensate for state budget cuts on education. The difficult economy could have more significant effects in the future. 

Also, I think maintaining history is important to the community since San Marino takes pride in its many historical homes and buildings and is not overdeveloped. 

Where do you stand on each of these issues?

I feel education is important and it is not so much about its cost, but how those funds are used and how parents raise their children to view education, work ethic and success.

I appreciate historical sites and like the commitment to preserve them. It can often be a costly venture though and sometimes there's only so much money to go around.