Doug Smith

Senior Writer

Senior writer Doug Smith scouts Los Angeles for the ragged edges where public policy meets real people, combining data analysis and gumshoe reporting to tell L.A. stories through his 45 years of experience covering the city. As past database editor from 2004 through 2015, he hunted down and analyzed data for news and investigative projects. Besides “Grading the Teachers,” he contributed to investigations of construction abuse in the community college system and the rising toll of prescription drug overdoses. Smith has been at The Times since 1970, covering local and state government, criminal justice, politics and education. He was the lead writer for Times’ coverage of the infamous North Hollywood shootout, winner of a 1997 Pulitzer Prize. Between 2005 and 2008, Smith made five trips to Iraq on loan to our foreign desk.

Latest From This Author

California

Housing developers used city-backed property as ‘personal bank account,’ lawsuit alleges

California

Housing developers used city-backed property as ‘personal bank account,’ lawsuit alleges

Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer on Wednesday sued several housing developers, alleging they misappropriated millions of dollars of public money. The lawsuit stems from a $2.3 million loan issued by the city in 1999.
California

$600,000 for homeless housing? Audit suggests spending money on shelters instead

California

$600,000 for homeless housing? Audit suggests spending money on shelters instead

With the costs of building housing on the rise, Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin is recommending that some projects be re-evaluated to see if their budgets can be cut to use less of the city’s $1.2-billion homeless housing bond.
California

Are many homeless people in L.A. mentally ill? New findings back the public’s perception

California

Are many homeless people in L.A. mentally ill? New findings back the public’s perception

Times analysis: Mental illness, substance abuse, physical disabilities are much more pervasive among L.A. County homeless than officials reported.
Obituaries

Robert A. Jones, pioneering environmental voice and whitewater adventurer, dies at 74

Obituaries

Robert A. Jones, pioneering environmental voice and whitewater adventurer, dies at 74

Former Los Angeles Times reporter and columnist Robert A. Jones, who applied an erudite voice to California’s environmental battles and in retirement guided raft trips down the Colorado, has died.
California

Scathing new audit finds deep operational failures at L.A.’s top homeless outreach agency

California

Scathing new audit finds deep operational failures at L.A.’s top homeless outreach agency

Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority missed several goals in its contract with L.A. to get people into shelters, housing and treatment, an audit says.
California

Amid measles warning for Disneyland and other L.A. tourist spots, here’s what you need to know

California

Amid measles warning for Disneyland and other L.A. tourist spots, here’s what you need to know

Thousands may have been exposed to measles by an infected New Zealand teen who visited Disneyland, LAX and other locations, local health officials say.

More Coverage

Teen with measles visited Disneyland, Universal Studios, other tourist attractions
California

These six developers say they can build housing for homeless people faster and cheaper

California

These six developers say they can build housing for homeless people faster and cheaper

Building housing for homeless people is getting slower and costlier every year. But six developers who answered a challenge from L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti may get to show they can do better, using a $120-million grant from the city.
California

He kept watch over L.A.’s $1.2-billion homeless housing bond. Now he is stepping down

California

He kept watch over L.A.’s $1.2-billion homeless housing bond. Now he is stepping down

Miguel Santana, the former city administrative officer who has prodded Los Angeles to be more urgent and efficient in building housing for homeless people, is leaving the Proposition HHH citizens oversight committee.
California

This activist bought 4.5 acres of the L.A. River just to have a stake in its revitalization

California

This activist bought 4.5 acres of the L.A. River just to have a stake in its revitalization

Steven Appleton bought 4.5 acres smack in the middle of the L.A. River. Private land in a public waterway comes with few rights, but he’s hoping one of them is to tell the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, “No more Roundup!”
California

To house almost 600 homeless people, a Venice couple are working outside the system

California

To house almost 600 homeless people, a Venice couple are working outside the system

Mom-and-pop real estate investors Heidi Roberts and John Betz have provided beds for 98 homeless people. Under their new nonprofit Haaven, they plan to house 480 more in the next year.

More Coverage

California has the most homeless people of any state. But L.A. is still a national model