Stephen Brown, Patch Staff

<strong>Email:</strong> stephen.brown&#64;patch.com

<strong>Phone: </strong>(917) 208-8081

<strong>Hometown: </strong>Greensboro, NC

<strong>Birthday:</strong> 5/15/83

<strong>Welcome Video: </strong>Watch here.<strong><br></strong>

Stephen is from North Carolina and moved to New York in 2005 to study Latin American Studies and Journalism at NYU. Before devoting his time to community news, he did a good deal of studying and working in Brazil, Ecuador, Costa Rica and other Latin American countries. He also became fluent in Spanish and Portuguese during his travels.

After graduating he worked as an intern for The Daily Beast and freelanced for various newspapers in the city. Most recently he was a staff reporter at The Brooklyn Paper, where he covered Prospect Park, the Atlantic Yards project, the redevelopment of Coney Island, and many other issues.

<strong>Beliefs
:</strong> <i>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 editors and writers to inject their beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that their beliefs are on the record will cause them to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that they failed in this mission, please let us know.</i>

<strong>Politics:</strong> Democrat.

<b>Religion</b>: I&#39;m not a religious person.<i> </i>

<strong>Local Hot-Button Issues</strong> : Some of the major issues we&#39;ll certainly be covering include the Atlantic Yards project and the inevitable surge in parking and traffic issues. We&#39;ll also cover crime and issues related to affordable housing. Lastly, Fort Greene Patch will strive to be the premiere source of arts coverage in the neighborhood — from major cultural institutions like BAM to smaller theater and arts events that are very much entrenched in the community. Gentrification will inevitably come up in many of the stories we cover.