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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One of the state’s largest landlords — the man at the center of an LAist investigation — is being sued for allegedly letting his properties fall into dangerous disrepair. -
Two L.A. City Council members are putting forward a new proposal that could let developers skip on-site parking, with the goal of creating more housing. -
Facing $22 million in reduced funding, L.A. County officials have decided to close parks two days per week and increase entrance fees. -
One year ago, Los Angeles received recommendations for updating a decades-old rent control formula. But the City Council still hasn’t scheduled a vote. -
CalAssist Mortgage Fund offers up to three months of mortgage payments for homeowners who lost their homes in the Eaton and Palisades fires. -
Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority CEO says the embattled agency won’t have enough funding to carry out the 2026 count. -
L.A. permitted about 17,000 new homes last year. To keep pace toward its 2029 goals, the city needs to approve more than triple that number each year. -
Local officials have told tenants to sue landlords who refuse to clean post-fire smoke damage. A new lawsuit seeks to require inspections and enforcement. -
Price gouging exploded after LA fires. Community rent hike investigators ask: Where are the charges?More than 1,300 Zillow listings appeared to illegally raise rents in the early days after the fires. Four months later, few criminal cases have been filed. -
The new LAX/Metro Transit Center station will open in June. But a direct connection with the airport won’t be ready until next year.
Stories by David Wagner
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