• Andrew Dana HudsonPatch Staff Verified Patch Staff Badge

  • Affton-Shrewsbury, MO

Check out my welcome column and epic introduction video!

<b>Basics</b>

andrew.hudson&#64;patch.com<br>314-406-9965

<b>Originally from</b>: All over the place, but I&#39;ve been in St. Louis long enough to call it my home town.

<b>Birthday</b>: January 29

<b>Bio</b>: Andrew was born in Lexington, KY and moved hither and thither about the Midwest before settling in St. Louis just in time for high school. He went to college at Fordham University on the famous island of Manhattan, earning a BA in Political Science. There he ran the Opinions section of the award-winning Fordham Observer and wrote an also award-winning column on technology and politics. After graduating in 2009—not the best year, you might recall—he deftly escaped a collapsing job market by moving to India, where he worked as an editor, reporter, photographer and hip-hop music reviewer at a small English-language newspaper in the Himalayan state of Sikkim. Now he&#39;s back to his home suburb of Affton, and boy is he ready to get patchy with it.

Andrew loves catchy rap music, well-cut suits, and outer space. He has black belts in Karate and Tae Kwon Do. He is also an enormous nerd.

<b>Beliefs</b><br><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 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. <br> <br> 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.</i><br><br><b>Politics</b>

<i>How would you describe your political beliefs?</i>

I&#39;ve been positively alarmed at the state of the world pretty much since I could talk, but don&#39;t mistake me for a pessimist.  Even as our cities are battered by catastrophic bad weather, our infrastructure crippled by high-tech guerrillas, our savings pilfered by predatory financial entities and our social norms unseated by unstoppable demographic shifts, I have great hopes that somehow we&#39;ll find a way to thrive and maybe even learn to be a little better to each other.

That said, I&#39;m still worried enough to usually vote Democrat.

<b>Religion</b>

<i>How religious would you say you are? Casual, observant, devout, non-religious?</i>

Despite a Christian upbringing, religion has never really stuck for me. I&#39;m bit too preoccupied by mercilessly hurtling asteroids to think much about heavenly angels. Still, I&#39;ve got values—absolute ones even. And when I need strength I don&#39;t turn to some dim oblivion, but instead draw on the focus and composure I&#39;ve learned from the martial arts. I&#39;m not sure there is one religion right for everyone, but I think right beliefs can make make each one of us great.

<b>Local Hot Button Issues</b>

<i>What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?</i>

Jobs, social services, education.

<i>Where do you stand on each of these issues?</i>

The Affton area is a unique jigsaw of overlapping municipalities and school districts. Once we sort through the jumble, though, I think we&#39;ll see that it&#39;s in all of our interests to pay for quality schools and functional civil services. With good infrastructure and state support, our businesses can thrive and eventually put people back to work.<i><br></i>

Posting Activity

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Patch Picks: Super Bowl Parties

We&#39;ve got five spots around town to spend your Super Bowl Sunday.

Patch Picks: Super Bowl Parties
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Andrew's Trusty Goodbye

Your local editor Andrew Dana Hudson says his final thank yous.

Andrew's Trusty Goodbye
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Affton Police Blotter: Assault on an Officer

The following information was supplied by the Affton Precinct of the St. Louis County Police Department. Arrests do not indicate convictions.

Affton Police Blotter: Assault on an Officer