Cassandra Morris, Patch Staff

<b>Email: </b>cassandra.morris&#64;patch.com<b><br>Hometown: </b>Trumbull, CT<b><br>Birthday</b>: April 19

<b>Bio </b>

I got my start in community journalism reporting on high school sports for my hometown newspaper, The Trumbull Times. In 2004 I graduated from New York University with a degree in Journalism. I have reported for US Weekly, NY Press, The Aquarian, and several other newspapers, magazines and websites. I also worked as an Associate Producer for Cool in Your Code, a local NYCTV show that explored a different zip code every episode, and wrote CiYC&#39;s weekly column, which ran in Metro NY Newspaper. I moved to California at the beginning of 2010, and am happy to be staying for my new job as Editor of Montrose Patch.<br><br><b>Politics</b>

I am a forward-thinking, self-propelled, independent-minded liberal with a fascination for the empowerment of womankind. I am for government programs that aid those in need but am skeptical of an overly militaristic society and the invasion of privacy.<b><br></b>

I believe that the First Amendment is extremely important and don&#39;t believe in censorship, unless the material is extremely obscene. <br><br><b>Religion</b>

I was raised as a lazy Catholic, and now do not affiliate myself with any religion. I try to live by the golden rule and believe in religious tolerance. Bigotry is upsetting, but communication can tear down every wall.<br><b><br>Local Hot-Button Issues</b>

Several issues really strike a nerve with Montrose and La Crescenta residents, including the expansion of the 710 Freeway, &#34;Mansion-ization,&#34; controlling teen drug and alcohol abuse and preserving open space.

I am against expansion of the 710 Freeway and think an alternative option should be explored, such as a railway.

As for &#34;Mansion-ization,&#34; I am not against homeowners renovating their houses, but I think construction should be done in a way that is aesthetically pleasing and &#34;matches&#34; the rest of the neighborhood.

I think the key to controlling teen drug and alcohol abuse starts at home, and I am for programs that educate parents and caregivers on how to talk to their children at a very young age about the risks of abuse. I am for school programs that educate children on drug and alcohol abuse. The Firehouse teen center in La Crescenta is a good start to providing teens with an after-school activity, but I think it needs to be open more than once a week.

I am for preserving open space and maintaining the beautiful parks in our neighborhood and the surrounding areas. For example, I would like to see the Verdugo Hills Golf Course turned into a park and recreation facility and do not support its proposed development into condos and storefronts.