Matthew Schwarzfeld writes on how government policy and administration shapes the lives of New Yorkers, particularly those most disconnected from the city agencies designed to serve them. His work at New York University’s Department of Journalism has covered topics such as immigrant healthcare, private development in low-income neighborhoods, community activism, and city-sponsored arts in public spaces. Prior to attending New York University, Schwarzfeld worked as a policy analyst, overviews and training manuals for elected officials on law enforcement and criminal justice issues such as police responses to people with mental illnesses and prisoner re-entry. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 2003 with a degree in American Studies, and lives in Brooklyn.