David Wagner
Housing Reporter
(he/him)
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. I help people understand their rights, housing market trends, policy changes and the solutions being proposed to fix the region’s housing crisis.
I grew up in Anaheim, where my parents had the car radio constantly tuned to LAist 89.3 (formerly KPCC). Before coming to KPCC and LAist, I covered science for the NPR affiliate in San Diego, KPBS.
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Airbnb hosts in unincorporated areas of L.A. County could soon be barred from renting out properties they don’t live in. -
One of L.A. County’s busiest tenant law firms prevailed this week when a jury ruled in their favor. -
A pro-housing group has filed a second lawsuit challenging the city’s retroactive ban of fast-tracked affordable housing in lower-density neighborhoods. -
L.A. has frozen rents in rent-controlled housing since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting Thursday, landlords can charge up to 6% more. -
Rent in L.A. was never canceled during the pandemic — only delayed. The city’s renters have until Feb. 1 to get all caught up. -
Now that L.A. officials know who landlords are trying to evict, city workers are showing up at renters’ doorsteps to offer help. -
A final vote on requiring air conditioning in L.A. apartments is still months away. But local landlord groups have begun fighting the idea. -
This means L.A. tenants who violated their leases during the COVID-19 pandemic by adopting a pet will be protected from eviction. -
In her first week in office, Mayor Karen Bass exempted new low-income housing from lengthy environmental challenges. Why is the city now accepting appeals? -
Friday is the last day for landlords to apply to the county’s $69-million rent relief program.
Stories by David Wagner
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