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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.
Stories by David Wagner
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Baldwin Park passed a local rent control law in 2019. But good luck trying to find out the city’s current rent increase limits.
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The new 3% cap would take effect at the start of 2025. But it's limited to people living in pre-1995 buildings in unincorporated areas. We help make sense of the confusing rules.
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The union representing 48,000 UC workers says members will walk off the job next week at UC San Diego, UC Irvine and UC San Diego.
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At the start of 2023, L.A. County was home to one-in-three film and TV jobs nationwide. Now it’s closer to one-in-four.
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The city provided the land back in 2016. Years later, low-income arts workers now have a new place to call home.
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Harris-Dawson was supported by the council’s more progressive wing, highlighting the city’s continued leftward political shift.
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A new UCSF study finds unhoused Californians over 50 spend more time unhoused than their younger counterparts. What’s driving the difference?
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Barrington Plaza landlord says it needs to halt business for fire safety repairs. Tenants say their apartments will still be rented after they’re kicked out.
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Opportunities for low-income Angelenos to buy a house are few and far between. Now Habitat for Humanity is buying 16 properties with plans to sell to families in El Sereno.
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California is in a massive housing crisis, and while longstanding environmental law is not solely to blame, a new report finds it isn't helping matters.
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LA residents are furious over homelessness. Are they fed up enough to tax themselves all over again?A half-cent sales tax with no sunset date may be headed to the November ballot. Opponents say L.A. County residents have already paid billions, with not much to show for it.
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L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’s signature low-income housing program faces new motion in city hall to further limit neighborhoods where ED1 can be used.