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Jacob Margolis
What I cover
I cover science, with a focus on environmental stories and disasters, as well as investigations and accountability.
My background
I created, wrote and hosted the LAist Studios podcasts, The Big One: Your Survival Guide and The Big Burn: How To Survive In The Age of Wildfires. I was part of the team that won the 2021 Investigative Reporters and Editors Audio Journalism Award for the series "Hot Days: Heat’s Mounting Death Toll On Workers In The U.S. "Most recently, I’ve published investigations into large scale illegal dumping in L.A. County and previously unreported heavy metal concentrations in fire retardants.
My goals
To uncover how science, policy, and power intersect — so people have the information they need to hold decision-makers accountable and protect their communities.
Best way to reach me
You can reach me by email: jmargolis@laist.com. Or for encrypted communications, I'm on Signal: @jacobmargolis.1.
Stories by Jacob Margolis
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Running in the marathon costs about $200. But to close streets, pay medical staff and clean the streets in LA and Santa Monica, it will likely surpass $1 million.
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Short-term rentals have become so popular that LA rental listing site RadPad couldn't ignore them any longer. The CEO says people want flexible leasing options.
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City and county officials affirm their commitment to ending homelessness, but say they will need to find more revenues to fund their plans for the long-term.
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After months of studies, bold declarations and public hearings, city and county officials are moving on their homelessness strategies. Here's what you need to know.
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The L.A. city council sided with a local tenant who argued his apartment complex shouldn't be torn down because of the noted designers who built it in the 1930s.
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City officials say despite their preparedness plans, they expect flooding and mudslides, citing recent storms as a glimpse into what's to come.
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The recent wave of student protests began at the University of Missouri. But students at Occidental and Claremont McKenna say they were organized long before that.
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Students have been camped out in the administrative building, demanding that administrators make the college more inclusive and that the president leave his post.
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Mary Spellman's decision comes after a heated week at the school, where students say administration has been slow to address student demands for greater inclusivity.
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Some of LA's homeless have set up camp in riverbeds and flood control channels. Local teams are trying to convince them to move before the storms come.
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As LA officials consider ways to regulate the short-term rental industry, Airbnb is playing defense, spending money on local lobbyists.
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When the landlord announces the building is up for sale, renters have to find a new place. But West Hollywood may pass a law allowing them first rights to buy.
