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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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A committee tasked with oversight of the city’s controversial tax said it has created 10,000 union construction jobs. LAist tracked down the claim’s origins.
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Residents compiled testing results for 50 remediated homes. One third still contained asbestos, and 63% contained elevated levels of lead. What does that mean for safety?
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City staff admit information on the city’s website is outdated and say new rules will be available for a City Council vote later this month to clear up confusion.
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The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high.
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After City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto refused to sign a tenant aid contract, the City Council approved temporary funding while a new contract remains up for grabs.
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If your landlord still won’t remove toxic ash from your home, a new state law could help.
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Local officials told renters they couldn’t force landlords to clean ash-covered homes. A new state law, inspired in part by LAist’s reporting, clarifies who’s responsible.
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What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember.
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People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past.
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The discussions this week kicked off 380 days after a critical report came out. It's been 40 years since the formula that determines rent hikes in most L.A. apartments was last updated.
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Only high-rise developments would be required to hire union construction workers under plan advanced in committee this week.
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If Gov. Gavin Newsom signs it into law, SB 79 will allow apartment buildings up to nine stories tall near major transit lines. Here’s how to find out if your block qualifies.
