David Wagner

Palisades residents could be displaced as burned mobile home park is quietly put up for sale The Palisades Bowl was one of the area’s few sources of affordable housing. Sellers are now pitching it as a “blank canvas for redevelopment.”

Rare affordable housing in the Pacific Palisades could be permanently lost as owners try to quietly sell a burned mobile home park, pitching it as a "blank canvas for redevelopment."

My @laist.com story looks at where that leaves hundreds of former residents.

LA considers 'gut punch' cuts to city homelessness programs, blaming court settlement costs Safe parking lots, street medicine and hygiene programs for unhoused Angelenos could all be on the chopping block, according to a recent city report.

In order to comply with a major court settlement, L.A. needs deep cuts to some homelessness programs. At least that’s the conclusion outlined in a city report that's alarming some service providers and their clients.

Read more in my @laist.com story:

LA County leaders shoot down proposal to expand eviction safeguards for immigrants Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who put forward the proposal, said county-wide eviction limits would have helped L.A. County’s nearly 1 million undocumented immigrants.

L.A. County leaders just shot down a proposal to expand eviction protections for tenants late on rent. Supporters said it would have helped immigrants who've lost income due to ICE raids.

Find out how the proposal died in my @laist.com story:

Citing fallout from ICE raids, LA County raises threshold for evicting tenants late on rent Renters can fall two months behind on rent and still be protected from eviction. But the new rule only applies in unincorporated parts of the county.

Many L.A. renters have lost income from ICE raids. County leaders just voted to protect some from eviction if they're late by up to two months of rent. One County Supervisor wants to up it to three months and apply it county-wide.

More in my @laist.com story:

After the fires, LA passed new laws against rent gouging, but they’re not being used A new report finds that L.A.’s new anti-rent gouging laws have not resulted in lawsuits or fines against landlords who jacked up rents after the fires.

After fires destroyed thousands of L.A. homes, local leaders passed new laws aimed at stopping massive rent hikes on the housing still available to fire victims.

But a new report finds those laws aren't being used. More in my @laist.com story:

California bill seeks to set new standards for cleaning homes after toxic fires The proposed legislation would call on the state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control to set new standards for removing post-fire contamination.

The fires that tore through L.A. County last year didn’t just destroy thousands of homes — they left thousands more filled with toxic ash.

A state bill aims to set new standards for post-fire contamination testing and cleaning.

More in my @laist.com story:

Does LA need a ‘mansion tax’ makeover? City Council delays decision on sending it back to voters Measure ULA funds tenant aid by taxing mansion sales. But it also taxes new apartments. Multiple ballot initiatives are seeking changes — or repeal.

Should L.A. voters get a do-over on the city's embattled "mansion tax"?

The L.A. City Council delayed voting on a proposal seeking to exempt new apartment buildings. That means city voters won't see this on the June ballot.

More in my @laist.com story:

Researchers say LA’s ‘mansion tax’ hurts new housing. Voters could get a chance to tweak it A new City Council motion seeks to ask voters to change Measure ULA, including a tax exemption for new apartment buildings.

L.A. voters could get another chance to weigh in on Measure ULA, better known as the city's "mansion tax."

Researchers say it has led to a slowdown in new apartment building. Now some City Councilmembers think it needs reform. More in my @laist.com story:

LA transit agency seeks to override state law allowing more homes near train and bus lines The L.A. Metro Board of Directors voted to oppose implementation of SB 79, calling for a countywide exemption.

L.A. politicians tried to stop SB 79, a state law allowing more apartments near transit stops. It passed anyway. But L.A. leaders aren't done fighting.

Today the L.A. Metro Board of Directors voted to oppose local implementation. More details in my @laist.com story:

LA cities have programs for landlords to get around rent control. But they’re rarely used These programs give struggling landlords a way to raise rents above what local caps normally allow. But few apply, and even fewer get approved. LAist asked why.

Did you know that California cities must give landlords who are financially struggling a way to get around rent control?

I looked into these programs and found that few landlords apply, and even fewer are approved. Why? Read more in my @laist.com story:

This LA landlord asks renters for their astrological sign. Is that legal? Dave Goldstein says Scorpio tenants are “particular” and Libras are “gold.” Housing rights attorneys say there’s no specific law against asking, but it’s legally dicey.

When it comes to renters, Scorpios are “particular,” Libras are “gold,” and Aquariuses “can't make up their mind.”

That's according to one L.A. landlord who asks his applicants about their astrological sign. Is that legal? Find out in my @laist.com story:

Prominent LA eviction lawyer faces disciplinary charges from state bar Attorney Dennis Block is accused of keeping unearned fees, not paying court sanctions on time and representing both tenant and landlord in a dispute.

Block's defense attorney told LAist, “While we cannot comment on the specifics of the case, we believe the matter will be resolved in Mr. Block’s favor prior to trial at the settlement conference.”

More details in my @laist.com story:

This prolific LA eviction law firm was caught faking cases in court. Did it misuse AI? Dennis Block runs what he calls a 'leading eviction law firm.' A judge said legal citations submitted in Block's name for a case were fake. Experts told LAist the errors likely stemmed from AI misuse.

This is not the first accusation of ethical lapses Block has faced in recent years.

In 2023 his firm faced court sanctions over a filing full of fake case law. Legal experts said the bogus filing was probably an example of misuse of AI.

Block allegedly withheld refunds, kept a client's property, failed to pay court sanctions on time, and — in one case — represented both a tenant and the landlord trying to evict her.

Prominent L.A. eviction lawyer Dennis Block — who once said he has "evicted more tenants than any other human being on the planet Earth" — is now facing disciplinary charges from the CA State Bar. 👇

Thousands of LA renters in danger of losing housing vouchers, city says The city's housing authority says a pandemic-era housing voucher program could wind down by November, leaving thousands at risk of homelessness.

A pandemic-era housing voucher program is running out of money. Housing officials in the city of Los Angeles say they've told renters their subsidies could expire by November, putting thousands at risk of homelessness.

More details in my @laist.com story: laist.com/news/housing...

Investors are buying close to half the empty lots in LA burn zones, report says A new report from the real estate listings platform Redfin finds about 44% of Altadena lots were sold to corporate buyers in recent months.

A new report finds that investors are scooping up 44% of vacant lots in Altadena.

That's leading to anxiety over change in fire-ravaged neighborhoods. Are corporate buyers helpful rebuilders? Or "disaster capitalists?"

More in my @laist.com story:

Housing advocates sue Newsom, local leaders over duplex ban in fire recovery zones The lawsuit alleges politicians illegally blocked a state housing density law in neighborhoods rebuilding from the Palisades and Eaton fires.

Housing advocates filed a lawsuit today against Gov. Newsom and L.A. leaders, saying they illegally banned duplexes in burn zones.

The fight over how much new housing should be allowed as L.A. rebuilds is headed to court. My @laist.com story has the details:

One month late on rent? In Huntington Park, you could soon be protected from eviction The Huntington Park City Council is set to vote on a proposal to stop landlords from evicting tenants until they’re more than one month late on rent.

Late on this month's rent? In a growing number of SoCal cities, you could be protected from eviction.

Read my @laist.com story on a proposal that would make Huntington Park the next city to halt evictions until tenants are more than one month behind.

Should small landlords in LA be allowed to raise rents more than their corporate counterparts? After voting to lower annual increases in rent-controlled housing, some L.A. City Council members now want some landlords to be able to hike rents an extra 1%.

Should small landlords be allowed to raise rents more than their corporate counterparts? The L.A. City Council is set to vote on that question today.

More details in my @laist.com story:

How a retired construction worker finished Altadena’s first home on a lot burned by the Eaton Fire Jose Rodriguez lost the garage home where his son lived. He wasn’t trying to be the first to rebuild. But his experience helped him earn that distinction.

The first completed home on an Altadena lot burned in the Eaton Fire is here. It's an ADU built by a retired construction worker who wanted to replace his son's lost home.

Read more about what County leaders are calling "an important milestone" in my @laist.com story:

LA committee votes to explore canceling ‘mansion tax’ for Palisades homeowners If the post-fire exemption goes through, homeowners selling properties worth more than $5.3 million would not be subject to the tax under Measure ULA.

L.A. City Hall is moving forward with plans to cancel the "mansion tax" for Pacific Palisades homeowners recovering from January's fire.

Get details on today's city council vote in my @laist.com story:

LA reforms rent control for first time in 40 years, lowering rent hikes for most tenants Under the reforms approved by a majority of City Council members, rent hikes would be capped at 4%, even if inflation in the overall economy runs higher.

NEW: After years of debate, L.A. is moving to lower the rent hikes allowed in most apartments.

The city council just voted to cap increases at 4% moving forward, down from the current maximum of 10%.

Get the full details in my @laist.com story:

In 1923, a fire tore through Berkeley, destroying roughly 600 homes, including many by architect Bernard Maybeck. Years before, he was already a big fan of concrete (see his 1910 First Church of Christ, Scientist, now a national landmark). But the fire -er- cemented his love of fireproof materials.

Why some homeowners rebuilding from the Palisades Fire are choosing concrete After their more typical wood-framed homes burned, some are now rebuilding with non-combustible materials. And they’re getting discounts from insurance companies.

Concrete, more associated with freeways and skyscrapers, is now being used in home rebuilding after the Palisades Fire.

Insurance companies offer discounts for using the non-combustible material.

Read about one homeowner's plans in my @laist.com story:

How did an ‘implausible’ claim about jobs created by LA’s ‘mansion tax’ get cited by watchdogs? A committee tasked with oversight of the city’s controversial tax said it has created 10,000 union construction jobs. LAist tracked down the claim’s origins.

How did an ‘implausible’ claim about jobs created by LA’s ‘mansion tax’ get cited by watchdogs?

Read the emails I unearthed through a public records request for this
@laist.com story:

Newsom signs law clarifying that landlords must clean fire debris Local officials told renters they couldn’t force landlords to clean ash-covered homes. A new state law, inspired in part by LAist’s reporting, clarifies who’s responsible.

Gov. Newsom has signed a law clarifying that landlords must clean debris from fires and other disasters.

State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez said the bill was driven by tenant complaints and @laist.com's reporting on confusion over post-Eaton fire clean-up.

Why the LA City Council narrowly voted to oppose state bill allowing more housing near public transit A slim majority said Senate Bill 79 would take away the city’s control over housing growth. Other council members said the city is failing to confront the crisis.

Noteworthy that this bill is being signed into law despite significant opposition from L.A. politicians. Mayor Karen Bass asked Newsom to veto it. And a slim majority of the L.A. City Council voted to oppose the bill.

Would California’s big new housing bill affect your LA neighborhood? Use this map to find out If Gov. Gavin Newsom signs it into law, SB 79 will allow apartment buildings up to nine stories tall near major transit lines. Here’s how to find out if your block qualifies.

Gov. Newsom just signed SB 79, allowing denser housing near transit lines.

I'm re-posting my previous @laist.com story on how to find out if this major bill could bring new kinds of housing to your L.A. neighborhood.

Many CA cities wanted to build more housing by eliminating stair requirements. Only Culver City got it done What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember.

Hoping to boost new housing, cities across California have considered building code changes to let apartment buildings have just one staircase. But only Culver City has passed that guarantee.

Why did L.A. miss a key deadline? Find out in my @laist.com story: