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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 latest count found that 75,518 people are unhoused in L.A. County. The head of the agency that oversaw the data collection says multiple safety net systems have failed.
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The city council voted Tuesday to remove Mark Adams from overseeing housing for about 1,500 people who were formerly unhoused.
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City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto recommended Mark Adams to help fix urgent health and safety problems at Skid Row Housing Trust apartments. Now she wants him out.
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“Band-Aids are good … But what we really want to do is stop the bleed,” said the study’s lead researcher. “There is no medicine as powerful as housing.”
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New findings from LAist are adding to a growing list of questions swirling around Mark Adams who was tapped to oversee the Skid Row Housing Trust.
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“Somebody has got to be in charge,” said the author of the bill to create the position, Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer. “When we go to war, you’ve got to have a general.”
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In a conversation Wednesday with LAist’s show AirTalk, Bass said her office is doing a “deep dive with the numbers.”
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Here's how Mayor Bass did on her campaign promises on homelessness during her first year in office.
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How did we get here? Who’s in charge of what? And where can people get help? Here are answers to common questions around homelessness.
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The move for stricter oversight comes after LAist uncovered that the mayor’s office had not delivered transparency reports required by the city council.
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The effort comes after LAist revealed that required transparency reports have not been provided to the council.
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Critics say Inside Safe isn’t delivering on mental health care and other services. The mayor’s office attributes many of the issues to longstanding shortages.
