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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.
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You asked for help filing for unemployment benefits as an independent contractor in California. Here it is.
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California’s Work Sharing Program can stop coronavirus-related layoffs. But employers are frustrated by the state’s outdated application process.
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Some employers have struggled to apply for California's Work Sharing Program, which economists say could save jobs during a recession. But officials say improvements are coming soon.
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But the official unemployment rate only begins to capture the magnitude of local job losses.
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By one estimate, the pandemic has already claimed 1.3 million jobs in L.A. County.
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The bad news: self-employed workers have to wait two more weeks to file. The good news: payments should go out soon after.
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It's April 15 -- normally, the deadline to file your taxes. This year, you have extra time. But a lot else has changed.
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Young people, Latinos and those earning low incomes are at higher risk of getting laid off.
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Self-employed workers are still waiting to be able to file.
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Self-employed workers are still waiting to be able to file claims for jobless benefits.
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Housing rights advocates say requiring online rent payment violates California law.
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With rent now due for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit, many L.A. landlords are urging their tenants to pay rent online to ensure social distancing. But in many cases, the push may violate California state law.
