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.
-
Under the proposal, drivers would earn $15 in minimum hourly pay, plus another $15 to cover expenses such as gas, car insurance and maintenance. -
Los Angeles-based Forever 21 says it will close up to 178 stores in the U.S. Analysts say clothing retail workers in L.A. may see repercussions.
-
Governor Gavin Newsom's task force on homelessness met Friday in Los Angeles to discuss ideas for more quickly getting people off the streets. -
Cannabis business owners in Los Angeles say banning vaping products at licensed shops would push customers to black market shops. -
The city is falling far short of its goals when it comes to new low-income housing development. But it's doing an even worse job on housing for the middle class. -
California lawmakers have sent a bill to the governor’s desk that could bring about big changes for many jobs throughout the state. -
By some measures, California is the wealthiest state in the country. But new data shows that California still has a higher poverty rate than any other state. -
Older workers may be able to find new opportunities in the gig economy. But research shows that on certain platforms, they’re making less than younger workers. -
Grocery employers and workers’ unions have announced a deal to raise wages for tens of thousands of employees across Southern California. -
It’s not just a new kind of work. It can also be a cushion for those who can’t rely on their main job to make ends meet.
