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Nick Gerda
What I cover
I’m a reporter focusing on government accountability in Southern California, including around the homelessness crisis. I try to find answers to questions like: Why does it often seem like there’s so little progress around homelessness? What can be done to make systems more effective? And how are people in charge of these systems using their authority?
My background
I grew up in L.A. and Orange County and previously covered the county government in Orange County for more than a decade — often reporting on issues like homelessness, public safety, mental health and the role of money in politics. At LAist, my reporting on corruption spurred a criminal investigation that led one of Orange County’s most powerful officials to resign, plead guilty and get sentenced to years in prison for a scheme that diverted millions in food money from needy seniors. For that work, in 2025, I was honored to be named journalist of the year for California, SoCal and Orange County and to receive the national Dan Rather Medal for News and Guts.
My goals
I want my coverage to inform the public and inspire positive change by identifying areas for improvement in the ways leaders are exercising power.
Best way to reach me
Email: ngerda@laist.com. Signal: @ngerda.47
Stories by Nick Gerda
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The L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a proposal to inform the public about settlements once they are finalized.
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The city- and state-backed deal banned the buyer from ever telling the public who was receiving the taxpayer funds, according to an LAist review of records.
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Weingart Center has been out of compliance for nearly four years, according to an LAist review. Audits found multiple failures to properly account for taxpayer money.
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Citing LAist’s coverage, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath is proposing to require the county to publicly post details of all future settlements with county executives.
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The outside investigation was commissioned after Do pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge for actions as an Orange County supervisor.
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Davenport requested the settlement for “reputational harm, embarrassment and physical, emotional and mental distress caused by the Measure G.”
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CalFresh is one of several safety net programs facing a funding cliff if the shutdown — which has shown no sign of ending — drags on.
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The agreement is labeled “confidential” and was not reported out publicly by the county.
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The county’s chief operating officer, Joe Nicchitta, will serve as acting CEO.
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State law says the public must get access within two business days to public records of officials’ gifts and outside income. L.A. County attorneys say it may take months, not days, to make the information avaiable.
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The agency has been without a formal policy as it oversees hundreds of millions in contracts.
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L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority.
![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/2648526/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5597x4198+227+0/resize/208x156!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
![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/4b6c00c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4198x4198+926+0/resize/232x232!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)