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
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The Mayfair Hotel near downtown will become part of L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’ Inside Safe program. -
An LAist review finds 274 units, partially paid for by the voter-approved bond measure Proposition HHH, have sat empty for more than 60 days. -
The new waiver removes a key hurdle that Bass and homeless service providers have cited for delays in getting people into available housing meant for them. -
The ruling means a major lawsuit— seeking more treatment beds for people struggling with mental illness and drug addiction — will head to trial. -
“I’m at the end of my rope on this,” said Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, who threatened to cut off funding to L.A.’s homeless services agency. -
The independent report is the result of a nearly year-long investigation the city commissioned from a former police investigator. -
Up until now, renters have been protected from eviction if they still owe debt from March 1, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2021. But it’s coming due on Tuesday. -
“It would be completely unacceptable to me to settle with this pace,” Mayor Karen Bass told LAist. “That will not solve the problem, and our goal is to solve the problem.” -
The designated sleeping site with 20 tents comes after the city passed a law against camping in public. An estimated 312 people were unsheltered in the city last year. -
At a meeting Tuesday, supervisors also said money from past phone call fees has been misspent by sheriff officials. The jail phone fees currently bring in an estimated $30 million per year.
