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BYO-fridge? New bill aims to ban LA’s refrigerator-less apartments

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David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · 1d

L.A.'s notorious refrigerator-less apartments will soon be illegal.

Gov. Newsom just signed AB 628, a bill requiring all landlords to provide tenants with a working fridge and stove starting next year.

Here's my previous @laist.com story on this bill: laist.com/news/housing...

Why do so many L.A. landlords make renters bring their own refrigerators? An Inglewood state assemblymember is seeking to stop the practice.

LA takes up rent control reforms that could lower annual hikes. What you need to know

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David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · 2d

I'll be joining LAist's Airtalk at 10:05 a.m. to discuss a new attempt at changing L.A. rent control limits.

The caps on annual rent hikes cover 42% of the city's households. They haven't been updated in 40 years.

Tune in! 89.3 FM or LAist.com/listen

The discussions this week kicked off 380 days after a critical report came out. It's been 40 years since the formula that determines rent hikes in most L.A. apartments was last updated.

LA takes up rent control reform, one year after recommendations came out

David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · 6d

L.A.'s rent control formula hasn't been updated in 40 years.

Now, the city council is discussing reforms that could lower annual rent hikes from the current maximum of 10% to 5%... or less if tenant advocates prevail.

Get the full story at @laist.com:

The formula that determines rent hikes in most L.A. apartments hasn’t been updated in 40 years. Now, those increases could be significantly lowered.

Would California’s big new housing bill affect your LA neighborhood? Use this map to find out

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David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · 13d

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.

Renters who sued LA County over lack of Eaton Fire ash cleanup secure settlement

David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · 19d

Almost 8.5 months after the Eaton Fire, L.A. County has now agreed to enforce toxic ash cleanup standards in Altadena as part of a legal settlement with tenants announced this week. A case against Pasadena is ongoing.

Get the details in my @laist.com story:

County agrees to enforce cleaning in Altadena apartments. Tenants say it may be too late to help some but could establish clear rules in future fires.

LA County considers reviving COVID-era eviction policy to aid immigrant renters

David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · 21d

First for the pandemic. Then for fires. Next, for ICE raids?

L.A. County considers reviving COVID-era eviction policy to aid immigrant renters. Details in my @laist.com story:

As many immigrant families struggle to pay rent, county leaders ask: Is another eviction moratorium the solution?

Duplexes are now banned in post-fire Palisades. Here’s why they’re still allowed in Altadena

David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · 22d

Following an uproar about plans for denser housing in areas rebuilding from fires, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass banned duplexes in the Pacific Palisades.

But in Altadena, county leaders are taking a different approach. Find out why in my @laist.com story:

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding.

State lawmakers unveil bill that would put new limits on LA’s hotly debated ‘mansion tax’

David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · 27d

Well that fizzled fast...

State lawmakers have now shelved their efforts to reform L.A.'s "mansion tax." Mayor Bass said she asked State Senators to hold off and introduce an amended version of the bill next year.

Details in my @laist.com story:

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David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · 28d

BREAKING: California lawmakers are out with plans for new limits on the city of L.A.'s hotly debated "mansion tax."

This comes as signatures are being gathered for a potential 2026 ballot measure to throw out the tax.

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

Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.

After rejecting tenant-aid contract, LA city attorney launches audit of eviction-defense provider

David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · Aug 16

L.A.'s lead provider of legal aid for struggling renters is now being audited by the L.A. City Attorney's Office.

The increased scrutiny comes after Hydee Feldstein Soto rejected a new contract for city-funded eviction defense and rent relief. My @laist.com story has details:

Hydee Feldstein Soto said she wants to know if city funds helped tenants as intended. The tenant aid group says it's already complied with contract reporting requirements.

Seven months after LA fires, landlords will be ordered to clean smoke-damaged Altadena homes

David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · Aug 14

Some renters displaced by the Eaton Fire still haven't returned to their homes, because their landlords haven't removed toxic ash.

Now, more than seven months after the fire, L.A. County says it will order landlords to clean Altadena apartments. Details in my @laist.com story:

After renters sued over alleged lack of enforcement, L.A. County has now clarified tenant rights and landlord responsibilities in smoke-damaged homes.

Homelessness is down in the LA region — but not for children and families

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David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · Aug 1

For @laist.com, Elly Yu reports on a troubling trend: Even as L.A. makes some progress on sheltering unhoused adults, the region is failing to stem the rise of homelessness among families with kids.

laist.com/news/educati...

The estimated number of unsheltered children and teens under 18 in the county went up this year.

Newsom plans to let LA suspend duplex projects in fire burn zones

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David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · Jul 30

How many additional homes should be allowed in Altadena and the Palisades as homeowners start to rebuild?

Gov. Newsom plans to let L.A. suspend a state law allowing duplexes to replace single-family homes in burn zones. Get the details in my @laist.com story:

Should Palisades and Altadena homeowners be able to build duplexes on their burned lots? Some state and local officials say no.

Cash-strapped LA cities ask private donors to help immigrants pay rent following ICE raids

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David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · Jul 21

After federal immigration raids, L.A. families are losing income and struggling to make rent.

So far, cities have relied on private donors to fund cash assistance programs. Some renter advocates say local governments should dig deeper to help.

Read my @laist.com story for more:

Facing budget shortfalls, local governments are now asking philanthropists to help provide cash assistance and rent relief to families with detained workers.

Post-fire rent gouging charges have been rare, but LA County violators could soon be fined

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David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · Jul 15

Despite thousands of listings that appear to have illegally raised rents since the January fires, L.A. County prosecutors have yet to file any charges.

Now, county leaders want a new approach to enforcement: fines of up to $1,000 per day. Read our @laist.com story for details:

The district attorney’s office has not filed any charges for post-fire price gouging. Now, county leaders want the ability to issue daily fines of up to $1,000 per violation.

After the LA fires, mortgage companies promised to give devastated homeowners a break. Some have not

Reposted by David Wagner

Eviction Lab @evictionlab.bsky.social · Jul 1

“It's a real breach of trust when servicers have raised this expectation of giving certain disaster relief and then they're not offering it at a moment where these homeowners really don't need any more stress.”

laist.com/news/housing...

via @laist.com #housing+ #urbanism+ #urbanism

Borrowers who lost homes tell LAist their banks are not following the rules of a state mortgage relief program. Some have been told they could face foreclosure.

After the LA fires, mortgage companies promised to give devastated homeowners a break. Some have not

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David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · Jun 30

After the L.A. fires, hundreds of mortgage companies said they would pause monthly payments for homeowners who lost everything. They promised to give people time to recover.

But some are now demanding borrowers pay up — or risk losing their properties. My story for
@laist.com:

Borrowers who lost homes tell LAist their banks are not following the rules of a state mortgage relief program. Some have been told they could face foreclosure.

LA County leaders vote to extend housing price-gouging protections for another month

David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · Jun 24

L.A. County has extended a ban on rent gouging after the January fires.

Limits were set to expire July 1 under an order from Gov. Newsom. Now they'll last through July 31.

Tenant advocates say they're still seeing 100s of illegal listings every week. More in my @laist.com story:

An order against hiking rents more than 10% after January’s wildfires was set to expire on July 1. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted to extend it until July 31.

ICE raids lead to another crisis for immigrant workers and families: How to pay rent

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Reposted by David Wagner

Eviction Lab @evictionlab.bsky.social · Jun 24

“This could have the result of increasing homelessness for entire families.”

laist.com/news/housing...

Via: @laist.com
#housing+ #urbanism+ #urbanism

Two-thirds of undocumented households were already burdened by L.A. housing costs. With breadwinners locked up and workplaces closed, paying rent is only getting harder.

Help for LA renters at risk of eviction jeopardized as city attorney refuses to sign contract, tenant advocates say

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David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · Jun 20

Legal aid for thousands of L.A. renters is at risk of vanishing on June 30, tenant advocates say, because City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto is refusing to sign a contract approved by the City Council and the Mayor.

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

Renters have been getting legal aid and rent relief through Stay Housed L.A. for years. If Hydee Feldstein Soto lets the city’s contract lapse, those services could end June 30.

ICE raids lead to another crisis for immigrant workers and families: How to pay rent

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David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · Jun 20

Trump’s mass deportation efforts are colliding with L.A.’s housing crisis.

With breadwinners detained and workplaces shutting down due to fear of more raids, immigrant workers and their families tell @laist.com they're not sure how they'll pay next month's rent.

Two-thirds of undocumented households were already burdened by L.A. housing costs. With breadwinners locked up and workplaces closed, paying rent is only getting harder.

David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · Jun 13

I have read the motion. I was the first to report on it.

Also, no need to speculate. There already are ED1 projects getting built with zero parking under AB 2097. The idea that similar projects would never get built elsewhere if the policy goes city-wide seems unlikely.

David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · Jun 13

Allowing projects across the city to opt for no parking is exactly what this motion is seeking to do. Your insistence that our story "blew it out of proportion" is weird, but whatever.

David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · Jun 12

OK