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.
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The demise of Toys "R" Us could create room for offices, homes and movie theaters. Or closed stores could just sit empty. -
A new report from the UCLA Labor Center finds that 77 percent of local retail workers receive their schedules a week or less ahead of time. -
The California Gold Rush redefined how Americans saw failure and success. Today, the state’s economy still benefits from entrepreneurs eager to take big chances. -
The President wants to help the Rust Belt, but a tariff on certain steel products in the early 2000s wasn't good for American jobs. -
Southern California gun store owners say they don't get many customers old enough to buy a rifle, but not yet old enough to buy a handgun. -
We're doing better than we have since the recession. Although unemployment is below five percent, many of these jobs aren't stable or well-paying. -
Some in the cannabis industry say the rules around where pot shops can locate have become so broad that, in certain cases, they might include traffic medians. -
Big losses on Wall Street should concern Californians — even those with no money in the stock market — because they can have a big impact on the state's budget. -
Most homeowners' insurance policies exclude coverage for mudslides. But California's insurance commissioner says in the case of Montecito, insurers should pay out. Here's why. -
Four Southern California households at four different income levels shared their tax returns with us. Here's how the GOP's tax overhaul will affect each of them.
