Basics

• Email: cotton@patch.com

• Phone: 973-951-8592 (c)

• Hometown: South Orange
• Age: 27
• Bio: I'm a graduate of Columbia High School (2000) and Yale, and I've worked as a reporter at The Jersey Journal and as an editor at New York Resident magazine. I lived on a Brazilian beach for a year somewhere in between. I'm obsessed with "The Wire," '70s-era Al Pacino and dog parks. I usually root for underdogs but used to be a Yankee fan. I stopped when they canned Joe Torre; if I could choose any living person to have dinner with, he'd be high in the running. If I could choose a fictional person, it would be Gus from "Lonesome Dove." Or Chuck Bass from "Gossip Girl." I live in Jersey City.

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 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.

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.

Politics

* How would you describe your political beliefs?

Left-leaning.

Religion

* How religious would you say you are? Casual, observant, devout, non-religious?

I was raised Episcopalian but inherited some Catholic guilt.

Local Hot Button Issues

* What do you think are the two or three most important issues facing the community?

Taxes, development and home values.

* Where do you stand on each of these issues?

I don't know yet.