Writing for the people.

Most recently, I wrote articles for the online audience of PIX11 News, a television station based in New York City, as a digital content producer. I largely wrote about crime, politics, policy, immigration and the LGBTQ+ community.

Many of the stories I covered in the New York City metropolitan area are of national relevance and have been republished in many of Nexstar’s affiliate stations across different cities in the U.S., including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Honolulu and Tampa. My work has also been published in Rappler, a major online news organization in the Philippines. 

Content Warning: Some of the articles I reported on deal with crime, death, sexual assault and suicide.

Judge set to rule on possible federal takeover of Rikers Island

NEW YORK (PIX11) — A judge could rule Thursday that a federal takeover of Rikers Island is needed to overhaul the detention complex, despite the protests of New York City leaders including Mayor Eric Adams.

In the ruling, the federal judge could maintain the status quo by maintaining federal monitoring of Rikers, or opt to go a step further by having a federal receiver take over the facility, which has been troubled by inmate deaths and violent attacks.

Adams has insisted that the city can man

A migrant family’s story during Sandy: 'All the New York flights were canceled'

BAYONNE, N.J. (PIX11) — When Filipino lawyer Jonathan Suarez founded Manhattan Allied Network, Inc. in 2006, he never thought he would be able to bring his family to the United States.

But after six years, he was able to make the seemingly impossible dream happen. His wife, Cecilia, and children, Carina and John, got their papers and their one-way tickets — ready to board their flight from Manila to the United States on Oct. 28, 2012, toward a new life.

What should have been a momentous occasi

NYC’s ‘Project Open Arms’ to help migrant children for start of school year

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

NEW YORK (PIX11) — With less than three weeks until the start of the school year, New York City schools are preparing for an influx of migrant children seeking asylum.

This is part of Mayor Eric Adams’ “Project Open Arms,” which aims to provide educational assistance to asylum-seeking families.

“Our city has been, and will always be, a cit

Immigrant advocates in NYC celebrate DACA’s 10th anniversary

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

NEW YORK (PIX11) — Members of the New York Immigration Coalition, DACA recipients and city officials celebrated the 10th anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) on Wednesday.

The policy, which was established during former President Barack Obama’s administration, made it possible for immigrants who were brought to the U

10 shot, 13 injured in Brooklyn subway station, officials say

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

SUNSET PARK, Brooklyn (PIX11) — Ten people were shot and 13 others were injured in a Brooklyn subway station attack Tuesday morning, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell confirmed at an NYPD presser Tuesday evening.

On a northbound N train just before 8:25 a.m., a man put on a gas mask, pulled out two canisters and opened fire as smoke filled

Funeral held for FDNY EMS veteran killed in line of duty

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (PIX11) — FDNY EMS veteran Alison Russo-Elling was mourned Wednesday at her Long Island funeral, days after her life and career of nearly a quarter-century were cut short in an unprovoked, on-duty stabbing.

Russo-Elling, 61, has been remembered in recent days as a devoted friend, daughter, and mother, as well as a dedicated

Jersey City music teacher charged with sexually assaulting student: official

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (PIX11) — A music teacher in New Jersey was accused of sexually assaulting a student, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said Thursday.

David Musial, 62, allegedly sexually assaulted a male student multiple times, according to Suarez. She said the assaults occurred in Musial’s music studio on River Drive South in Jersey City from 2018 to 2022, when the victim was between 14 to 18 years old.

According to Suarez, Musial was arrested by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office

Man charged in Queens delivery worker’s murder dies by suicide

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

FOREST HILLS, Queens (PIX11) — The man accused of fatally shooting beloved Queens delivery worker Zhiwen Yan died by suicide, a police source told PIX11 News on Friday.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz released a statement confirming the death of Glenn Hirsch, who was out on bail.

“Obviously, we would have preferred to try Mr. Glenn H

Another Rikers Island inmate dies in DOC custody

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

NEW YORK (PIX11) — Another detainee died while under the custody of the New York City Department of Correction, a spokesperson said on Saturday.

Erick Tavira, 28, who was in custody at the George R. Vierno Center (GRVC) at Rikers Island, was pronounced dead at around 2:15 a.m., according to authorities. The cause of death is under investiga

NY Gov. Hochul declares state disaster emergency over monkeypox outbreak

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

NEW YORK (PIX11) — As the monkeypox outbreak shows no sign of slowing in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state disaster emergency on Friday.

Hochul said this will allow the state to respond promptly and strengthen the ongoing efforts to confront monkeypox, as nearly 1,400 cases were reported in New York on Friday. Nearly 1,300 of tho

NY airports now required to provide breastfeeding spaces away from public

FILE: People wait in a TSA line at the John F. Kennedy International Airport on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

NEW YORK (PIX11) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday signed into law legislation requiring airports to provide a space for breastfeeding away from the public’s view.

According to Hochul’s off

Mayor Eric Adams urges parents to talk about gun violence with their kids

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

NEW YORK (PIX11) — Mayor Eric Adams made a public safety announcement alongside other city officials on Wednesday.

The address was made following the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas that killed 19 children and two adults. Adams was joined by NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell and Schools Chancellor David Banks.

“Yeste

Boy, 3, dies after falling off 29th floor of Manhattan building, officials say

EAST HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11) — A boy died after falling out of a window on the 29th floor of a building in Manhattan Saturday morning, police said.

The 3-year-old child fell from the building along Third Avenue near East 123rd Street and landed on the fifth-floor scaffolding at around 11 a.m., officials said. The victim was taken by EMS to a hospital. He died afterward, according to the NYPD.

Neighbors described their shock to PIX11 News Saturday night.

“They said that a child fell from the

NYC barbershop helps break boundaries and binaries

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

EAST VILLAGE, Manhattan (PIX11) — Getting a haircut can be quite the ordeal. Uneven lengths and awkward-looking cuts are just some of the mishaps anyone can end up dealing with. For LGBTQ+ individuals, though, concerns go beyond just hair.

Diana Tosca, 26, was eagerly waiting for their appointment at Hairrari in the East Village Thursday af

LGBTQ social services expand in New York City

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

NEW YORK (PIX11) — Mayor Eric Adams announced on Friday an investment of nearly $6.7 million to provide new and expanded services for the LGBTQ community.

Alongside his Office of Equity’s Unity Project, the New York City Department of Youth & Community Development and nonprofit Destination Tomorrow, Adams said the funding will be used to de

NJ Gov. Murphy ‘outraged’ after Texas school shooting

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy talked about the gun safety provisions that were proposed in his state. (Credit: Office of the NJ Governor)

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

NEW JERSEY (PIX11) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday condemned the mass shooting that killed 19 school children in Texas.

“I’m outraged that our nation remains the only one in which the senseless

Diner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House stabs fellow patron after becoming ‘irate’ by his behavior: NYPD

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WPIX) – A woman stabbed a customer inside a New York City steakhouse on Friday after becoming annoyed by his argument with an employee, police said.

The victim, a 24-year-old male, had gotten into an argument with a worker inside the Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Manhattan at around 10 p.m., according to a statement released by the NYPD.

Two female patrons sitting at an adjacent table “became irate about the disturbance,” police said. One of the women then approached the man

Man dies after getting ‘caught between’ NYC subway train and platform, police say

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

MIDWOOD, Brooklyn (WPIX) — A man died in New York City after he got stuck between a train and a subway platform and was dragged onto the tracks, police said.

Marcus Bryant, 37, got tangled between the train car and the platform as he stepped off the Q train in Brooklyn late Wednesday night, according to officials. He was then hit by a north

Man punches 2 in the face at Madison Square Garden, gets banned for life

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New York Rangers 3-1 in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on June 09, 2022 in New York City. Right after the game, a Rangers fan was filmed sucker-punching a man in an opposing jersey, an offense that got him banned for life from MSG venues. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WPIX) — A spokesperson for Madison Square Garden in New York City says a Rangers fan who punched

Baby girl shot in face in NYC released from hospital months later: ‘Miracle medical journey’

The girl was only 11 months old when a gunman opened fire in the Bronx, hitting her while she sat in a parked car with her mother. (Credit: PIX11)

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

VALHALLA, N.Y. (WPIX) — A baby girl who was shot in the face in New York City more than three months ago was released from the hospital Friday.

At just 11 months old, the little girl was hit on

TikTok series 'Keep the Meter Running' honors NYC taxi drivers

NEW YORK (PIX11) — Comedian Kareem Rahma’s new TikTok series hits very close to home.

In his new series, “Keep The Meter Running,” Rahma hops in a taxi, asks the driver where their favorite place in the city is, asks them to take him there and has the driver keep the meter running the entire time. The inspiration for the series comes from his father.

“My father came from Cairo, Egypt to Minneapolis … and his first job in America was a cab driver,” Rahma told New York Living on Thursday. “I thi

New Yorkers spoil their dogs more than any other state: report

FILE: A dog is painted in pride colors at PrideFest on June 26, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

NEW YORK (PIX11) — Dogs in New York are the most spoiled in the entire United States, according to a report by Forbes Advisor.

Forbes Advisor analyzed nine key metrics of over 5,000 dog owners and found that New York b

New Yorkers flock to Brooklyn stations for limited-edition Biggie MetroCards

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — As part of celebrating renowned rapper The Notorious B.I.G.’s would-be 50th birthday, the MTA announced that 50,000 commemorative MetroCards would be available in select subway stations.

The cards were available for purchase starting at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, and as expected, New Yorkers flocked to get their cards.

LIPAD Pinay: Women uplifting women through micro-entrepreneurship

Since its launch in 2017, LIPAD Pinay has engaged over 50 barangay leaders and empowered 160 women micro-entrepreneurs

MANILA, Philippines – For Edna Vinluan and the women of the Local Inclusiveness Project for the Advancement and Development of Filipina Women, better known as LIPAD Pinay, leading the women in their community to create homemade and handmade goods is not only a source of living, but also of purpose.

Edna, 54 and a mother of 5, was a former inmate. She tells us that behind every

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arrives in New York City

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (PIX11) — This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree finally made its way to Manhattan Saturday morning.

Crane crews lugged the massive Norway Spruce to Rockefeller Plaza after its overnight, three-hour, 200-mile journey from Queensbury, New York, a town just south of Lake George. The chief gardener from Tishman Speyer searches every year for the perfect tree to stand tall over The Rink at Rockefeller Center.

It has always been a festive occasion for New Yorkers to watch

Police identify teen killed in Queens subway shooting: NYPD

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

FAR ROCKAWAY, Queens (PIX11) — A boy was fatally shot while aboard a subway train in Queens Friday, according to the NYPD.

Police identified the victim as 15-year-old Jayjon Burnett, who got on the train not long after school. Two groups got into a verbal argument on a southbound A train heading toward the Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue station a

‘Day Without Us' protest brings attention to reproductive rights

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

NEW YORK (PIX11) — Advocates and allies all over the country are coming together Friday to fight for reproductive rights.

Tiffany Flowers, an organizer of the Day Without Us protest, joined PIX11 Morning News on Wednesday to talk about the upcoming call to action.

“It will give some people deep pause about what happens when you take away t

Global Citizen Festival features Metallica, Mariah Carey, and more

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) — The Global Citizen Festival will be held Saturday afternoon in Central Park, marking its 10th year of advocating for the end of extreme poverty.

Concertgoers had to earn complimentary tickets, making the event that much more meaningful. Tickets are awarded through points, which could be earned through signing petit