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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The ruling says city officials cited no evidence that homeless shelters and other types of housing posed an immediate threat to public safety. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
After a contentious debate pitting landlords against renters — and councilmembers against each other — a post-fire eviction proposal didn’t secure enough votes to pass. -
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to increase the maximum fine from $10,000 to $50,000. -
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/30b2650/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5997x4198+27+0/resize/180x126!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Government documents show Va Lecia Adams Kellum, who leads an agency that manages over $700 million in homeless services contracts each year, inked deals with the nonprofit where her husband is a senior staffer. -
One month after the fires, many renters still can’t move back to their homes because their landlords won’t say when, or if, they plan to clean up toxic ash. -
Los Angeles councilmembers spar over a proposal to give new safeguards to tenants who lost income because of the fires. -
The agent allegedly offered a Glendale home to a family displaced by the Eaton Fire for more than 50% above the listed rent. She denies the allegations.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e068700/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5997x4198+27+0/resize/360x252!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Stories by David Wagner
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