Articles by John Gittelsohn

Airbnb Billionaire Plans Factory-Built Homes for LA Fire Victims

Billionaire Joe Gebbia, the co-founder of Airbnb Inc. and a board member of Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc., plans to donate $15 million of factory-built dwellings to victims of the Los Angeles wildfires. The pre-fabricated houses — made by Gebbia’s startup, …

Startup Accused of Gouging LA Fire Victims on Rent

A venture capital-backed startup illegally jacked up rents for furnished apartments in Los Angeles — more than 50% in one example — after last month’s wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes, the city attorney’s office alleged in a lawsuit. Blueground …

LA Wildfire Losses Seen as High as $164 Billion, UCLA Says

Economic losses from the fires that tore through Los Angeles County in January range from $95 billion to $164 billion, according to a new report, potentially making the blazes the second-costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. The Eaton and Palisades …

Malibu Firefighters Make Gains on Blaze as Wind Warnings Persist

Firefighters made some gains containing a raging wildfire that threatens Malibu, California, even as the burn area doubled in size in a day and high-wind warnings are forecast to persist through much of Wednesday. The Franklin Fire, which has burned …

Hollywood Car Stunts Turn Into Real Crimes With Street Takeovers

California, the birthplace of hot rod culture and televised police chases, is cracking down on a surge in deadly street takeovers. Often organized through social media, these chaotic events — also known as sideshows — have transformed quiet streets into …

Thieves Swarm Luxury Malls in Southern California and Other Areas, Driving Retail Crime to $100B

It took just minutes for more than 20 thieves, clad in hoods and masks, to swarm the Nordstrom store in the Westfield Topanga shopping center and make off with $300,000 of handbags and other luxury items. A security guard was …

Washington Debates What to Do About Ransomware Payments, Cyber Reporting

More transparency is needed into what kind of cash payments are made after ransomware attacks, a top Democrat said, following a recent spate of cyber-attacks aimed at U.S. companies. Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, spoke days after …

Once Known as the ‘Bond King,’ Gross Retires After 40-Year Career

Bill Gross, who transformed bond investing over a storied four-decade career, is leaving the stage after a tough final chapter. Gross, who announced his retirement Monday, struggled in the last four years as head of the Janus Henderson Global Unconstrained …

Pension Trustees Seek Corporate Disclosure of Sexual Harassment Costs, Policies

A group of trustees from some of America’s biggest public pensions are calling on companies to detail costs related to sexual harassment and any measures they’re taking to address the problem. “We don’t see how it could possibly be accretive …

Guggenheim Exploring Deal with Munich Re’s Asset Management Unit

Guggenheim Partners is exploring the sale of a stake in its $250 billion asset-management unit overseen by Scott Minerd, according to people familiar with the matter. Guggenheim Partners Investment Management has been in talks with global insurers, sovereign wealth funds …