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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L.A. Supervisors backed off plans to cut aid that helps people stay housed — but went forward with other cuts prevention advocates say will make it harder for people at risk of losing housing to get legal help. -
Here’s what you need to know about the long-awaited findings on what the city has accomplished with billions of dollars in homelessness funding.
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A new Los Angeles City Council proposal aims to allow single-staircase buildings, a change advocates say would make room for more apartments, including bigger units for young families.
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The proposal mirrors a similar move by L.A. County leaders, who have also criticized LAHSA for oversight and accounting problems.
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The new guidance contradicts earlier statements from a city official who said tenants were on the hook for post-fire decontamination inside their own units.
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In the run-up to the 2028 Olympics, some city leaders say development barriers need to be removed. But opponents say the damage to communities could be long-lasting.
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The ruling says city officials cited no evidence that homeless shelters and other types of housing posed an immediate threat to public safety.
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The nascent Altadena Tenants Union has become a magnet for renters who’ve faced displacement, rent hikes and lease terminations in the wake of the fires.
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This is the third price gouging case filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta over alleged attempts to increase rents on tenants displaced by the fires.
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More than 80 homes burned down in Pasadena’s Upper Hastings Ranch, known for dazzling holiday light displays. This long weekend, neighbors gathered for a holiday block party.
Stories by David Wagner
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