Our Team

Editorial Staff

Donor Relations

Interns

Our Super Volunteers

Editorial Staff

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Lydia Chávez

Founder/Executive Editor

I’ve been a Mission resident since 1998 and a professor emeritus at Berkeley’s J-school since 2019. I got my start in newspapers at the Albuquerque Tribune in the city where I was born and raised. Like many local news outlets, The Tribune no longer exists. I left daily newspapers after working at The New York Times for the business, foreign and city desks. Lucky for all of us, it is still here.

As an old friend once pointed out, local has long been in my bones. My Master’s Project at Columbia, later published in New York Magazine, was on New York City’s experiment in community boards.

As founder/executive editor at ML, I’ve been trying to figure out how to make my interest in local news sustainable. If Mission Local is a model, the answer might be that you – the readers – reward steady and smart content. As a thank you for that support we work every day to make our content even better. More by Lydia Chávez

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Joe Eskenazi

Managing Editor/Columnist

Joe is a columnist and the managing editor of Mission Local. He was born in San Francisco, raised in the Bay Area, and attended U.C. Berkeley. He never left.

“Your humble narrator” was a writer and columnist for SF Weekly from 2007 to 2015, and a senior editor at San Francisco Magazine from 2015 to 2017. You may also have read his work in the Guardian (U.S. and U.K.); San Francisco Public Press; San Francisco Chronicle; San Francisco Examiner; Dallas Morning News; and elsewhere.

He resides in the Excelsior with his wife and three (!) kids, 4.3 miles from his birthplace and 5,474 from hers.

The Northern California branch of the Society of Professional Journalists named Eskenazi the 2019 Journalist of the Year. More by Joe Eskenazi

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Joe Rivano Barros

Senior Editor

Joe is senior editor at Mission Local. He is an award-winning journalist whose coverage focuses on politics, campaign finance, Silicon Valley, and criminal justice. He received a B.A. at Stanford University for political science in 2014. He was born in Sweden, grew up in Chile, and moved to Oakland when he was eight. You can reach him on Signal @jrivanob.99. More by Joe Rivano Barros

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Meg Shutzer

Senior Editor

Meg Shutzer is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and investigative reporter. Their most recent investigation into a juvenile detention center in Louisiana was a Finalist for the Livingston and Dart Awards. Their documentaries include MOTHER (2024), 8 Days at Ware (2022, PBS) Knocking Down the Fences (2021, PBS) and New Generation Queens (2015, Amazon).
Meg has a BA from Harvard and a Master’s in Journalism from UC Berkeley. They are a co-founder of Family Pictures, a production company comprised of journalists and filmmakers who combine original reporting and cinematic vision to craft non-fiction stories. When they aren’t chasing down a story, you can find Meg teaching journalism classes at San Quentin State Prison or cycling classes at 17 Reasons Athletic Club in the Mission District. More by Meg Shutzer

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Eleni Balakrishnan

Staff Reporter

Eleni is a staff reporter at Mission Local with a focus on criminal justice and all things Tenderloin. She has won awards for her news coverage and public service journalism.

After graduating from Rice University, Eleni began her journalism career at City College of San Francisco, where she was formerly editor-in-chief of The Guardsman newspaper.

Message her securely on Signal at eleni.47 More by Eleni Balakrishnan

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Yujie Zhou

Staff reporter

Yujie is a staff reporter covering city hall with a focus on the Asian community. She came on as an intern after graduating from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and became a full-time staff reporter as a Report for America corps member and has stayed on. Before falling in love with San Francisco, Yujie covered New York City, studied politics through the “street clashes” in Hong Kong, and earned a wine-tasting certificate in two days. She’s proud to be a bilingual journalist. Find her on Signal @Yujie_ZZ.01 More by Yujie Zhou

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Kelly Waldron

Data Reporter

Find me looking at data. I studied Geography at McGill University and worked at a remote sensing company in Montreal, analyzing methane data, before turning to journalism and earning a master’s degree from Columbia Journalism School. You can reach me on Signal @kwaldron.60. More by Kelly Waldron

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Xueer Lu

Data Reporter

Xueer works on data and covers the Excelsior. She graduated from UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism with a Master’s Degree. She joined Mission Local as part of the California Local News Fellowship in 2023. Xueer is a bilingual journalist fluent in Mandarin. In her downtime, she enjoys cooking, scuba diving and photography. More by Xueer Lu

Junyao Yang

Staff Reporter

Junyao covers San Francisco’s Westside, from the Richmond to the Sunset. She joined Mission Local in 2023 as a California Local News Fellow, after receiving her Master’s degree from UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Junyao lives in the Inner Sunset. You can find her skating at Golden Gate Park or getting a scoop at Hometown Creamery. More by Junyao Yang

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Oscar Palma

Staff Reporter

Reporting from the Mission District and other District 9 neighborhoods. Some of his personal interests are bicycles, film, and both Latin American literature and punk. Oscar’s work has previously appeared in KQED, The Frisc, El Tecolote, and Golden Gate Xpress. More by Oscar Palma

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Abigail Vân Neely

Staff reporter

Abigail is a staff reporter at Mission Local covering criminal justice and public health. She got her bachelor’s and master’s from Stanford University and has received awards for investigative reporting and public service journalism.

Abigail now lives in San Francisco with her cat, Sally Carrera, but she’ll always be a New Yorker. (Yes, the shelter named the cat after the Porsche from the animated movie Cars.)

Message her securely via Signal at abi.725 More by Abigail Vân Neely

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Margaret Kadifa

I’m covering immigration. My background includes stints at The Economist in print and podcasting as well as reporting from The Houston Chronicle and elsewhere. More by Margaret Kadifa

Beth Winegarner

I’m a copy editor and a Bay Area native who’s lived in San Francisco since 2004. I’ve written for local publications like the SF Weekly, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Chronicle and San Francisco magazine, as well as the New Yorker, the Guardian, Wired, Mother Jones and others. My favorite tacos and alambres come from El Farolito. More by Beth Winegarner

Donor Relations

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Victoria Anibarro

Donor Relations Lead. Vicky has called many places home, and moved to San Francisco with her husband in 2020 to complete her Master’s in Migration Studies. She enjoys drinking coffee, being in nature, engaging with her community, and asking people to support Mission Local. Donate Today! More by Victoria Anibarro

Interns

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Jessica Blough

Reporting from the Tenderloin. I’m a multimedia journalist based in San Francisco and getting my Master’s degree in journalism at UC Berkeley. Earlier, I worked as an editor at Alta Journal and The Tufts Daily. I enjoy reading, reviewing books, teaching writing, hiking and rock climbing. More by Jessica Blough

Frankie Solinsky Duryea

I’m covering immigration and running elsewhere on GA. I was born and raised in Burlingame but currently attend Princeton University where I’m studying comparative literature and journalism. I like taking photos on my grandpa’s old film camera, walking anywhere with tall trees, and listening to loud music. More by Frankie Solinsky Duryea

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Madera Longstreet-Lipson

Reporting from the Sunset and the Richmond. I’m originally from Boston, but have long visited and enjoyed the Bay Area. I’m currently an undergraduate at Duke University studying economics, anthropology and journalism. In my free time, I enjoy running by bodies of water and The White Lotus. More by Madera Longstreet-Lipson

Jordan Montero

Reporting from the Excelsior. Jordan is currently pursuing her B.A. at UC Berkeley in English and Journalism and is an editor at her college paper, The Daily Cal. Outside of the newsroom she enjoys movies, concerts, long walks on the beach and basically anything that has to do with art. More by Jordan Montero

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Marina Newman

Staff Reporter

Neighborhood Reporter

As the Bayview-Hunters Point reporter, I invite residents to contact me by email to chat or submit tips. More by Marina Newman

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Daniela Xitlaly Sandoval

I’m helping with Mission Local’s social media strategy and finding stories in the Mission. I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and raised in the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire in Southern California. I’m a UCLA alumna and am now pursuing my master’s degree in journalism at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. In my free time, I enjoy going to the movies and running (yes, for fun!). More by Daniela Xitlaly Sandoval

Allie Skalnik

I’m reporting on the environment from Bayview-Hunters Point. Growing up in Indianapolis sparked my commitment to local reporting, and I’m now a rising senior studying Oceans at Stanford. I’m passionate about science communication, buying yarn, untangling yarn and crocheting. More by Allie Skalnik

Jose Alonso Velazquez

Reporting from Bayview-Hunters Point. I grew up on 24th and York Street and attended Buena Vista Elementary. As a teenager, I moved to Hunters Point and went to school in Potrero Hill. I’m currently a student at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism. I’ve developed a toxic relationship with golf. More by Jose Alonso Velazquez

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Sage Ríos Mace

I’m covering immigration for Mission Local and got my start in journalism with El Tecolote. Most recently, I completed a long-term investigation for El Centro de Periodismo Investigativo in San Juan, PR and I am excited to see where journalism takes me next. Off the clock, I can be found rollerblading through Golden Gate Park or reading under the trees with my cat, Mano. More by Sage Ríos Mace

Super Volunteers

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Mimi Chakarova

Multimedia Advisor

I’m a documentary filmmaker who taught with Lydia at Mission Local when it was a Berkeley Project. Now, I’m called in to advise on projects and delight in doing so. Otherwise, I’m making films. Most recently, In the Red and The Apology as well as short films, The Neighbors and The Block. Other full-length documentaries: The Price of Sex and Men: A Love Story. Find my projects at Still I Rise. More by Mimi Chakarova

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George Lipp

George Lipp has long lived in the Mission. He’s our volunteer extraordinaire – always out taking photos or running across crimes in progress. More by George Lipp

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Craig Mautner

Craig has been a Mission/Bernal resident since 2011 when he and his wife followed their kids to the Bay Area from SoCal. After a 40-year career in tech he is proud to support Mission Local behind the scenes and as an occasional reporter. When not working on ML Craig spends his time taking his granddaughter around the City, biking, rooting for the Warriors, and fixing pinball machines. More by Craig Mautner

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Sara Miles

Newsletter Author

Volunteer and author of the daily newsletter. I’m a writer who’s covered wars, politics, and religion. I’ve lived in the Mission for over 30 years, and have appreciated the work of Mission Local since it began. More by Sara Miles

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Mark Rabine

Mark Rabine has lived in the Mission for over 40 years. “What a long strange trip it’s been.” He has maintained our Covid tracker through most of the pandemic, taking some breaks with his search for the Mission’s best fried-chicken sandwich and now its best noodles. When the Warriors make the playoffs, he writes up his take on the games. More by Mark Rabine

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Sandra Salmans

I provide editing support for Mission Local from New York, about 2500 miles away from SFO. (I just looked it up.) This allows me to retain my journalistic objectivity and fussy adherence to East Coast standards of punctuation. I got involved with Mission Local a few years ago through Lydia, whom I met in the early 1980s at The New York Times, where I was a business reporter. Since then I’ve been in and out of journalism and nonprofits, and have also tried my hand at fiction. A couple of years ago I contributed Mission Local’s first fiction series, a comic novel called Love in the Middle Ages. More by Sandra Salmans