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David Wagner
What I cover
I cover housing in Southern California, a place where ever-rising rents and a persistent lack of affordable housing have led to many living on the edge of homelessness.
My background
I’ve been helping people understand their rights, housing market trends, policy changes and the solutions being proposed to fix the region’s housing crisis for more than five years.
My goals
I want my coverage to help renters, landlords and anyone else affected by L.A.’s affordability issues navigate the region’s ongoing housing crisis.
Best way to reach me
I would love to hear from you if you have questions or concerns related to housing in Southern California. You can reach out by email. I'm at dwagner@laist.com. Or, if you have a tip you’d like to share more privately, you can reach me on Signal. My username is @reporterdavidwagner.38. For instructions on getting started with Signal, see the app's support page.
Stories by David Wagner
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Recent rulings have struck down requirements in L.A. and Pasadena for landlords to pay thousands of dollars to tenants who couldn’t afford large rent hikes.
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This is not the first time Orange County leaders have earned the reproval of state housing regulators.
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COVID-era housing vouchers will run out of funding at the end of the year. But L.A. officials say they now have a plan to keep 4,000 families in their homes.
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Mike Kobeissi was charged after a couple displaced by the Eaton Fire said they were told the rent on a La Cañada Flintridge property he listed had increased by 38%.
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The “Community Opportunity to Purchase Act” would give organizations committed to keeping rents low the first chance to make an offer on buildings coming up for sale.
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Outgoing City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto pledged to release funding to the city’s lead eviction defense provider, despite her questions about spending so far.
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The city’s voters almost got a chance to roll back the tax in November. But council leaders decided to pull the measure at the last minute.
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Initiative backers agreed to pull their measure after state lawmakers gave them a last-minute deal. Where do efforts to reform Measure ULA go from here?
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L.A. leaders have long voted to keep apartments away from single-family zones. A new state law is forcing them to change those plans.
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City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto alleges a legal aid organization hasn’t complied with its contract. But L.A. housing officials say they’ve seen full compliance.
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A previous council committee decided against sending tax changes to voters. But now, the full council wants to move forward with a November ballot measure.
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Proponents say they’re still collecting signatures and aiming to qualify their measure for the ballot in November 2028.
