Tomo Chien

I cover a wide range of topics, but especially enjoy using internet sleuthing and data analysis to discover unexpected stories. Reach me at [email protected] or tomo.213 on Signal.

Sep 19, 2026

Weekly Material: An ugly neighborhood coyote feud

Your one-minute, weekly roundup of L.A. Material’s best work.

Tomo Chien

Newsletter

Sep 15, 2026

Does L.A. still owe you a parking ticket refund?

Plus, fly fishing with Newsom, WatchDuty “on steroids” and a Laurel Canyon castle.

Tomo Chien

Exclusive

Sep 15, 2026

City to Audit Street Sweeping Tickets Following L.A. Material Investigation

The Department of Transportation not only issued $1 million in bogus tickets, but turned down drivers who appealed bad tickets and apparently failed to void thousands of others.

Tomo Chien

Weekly Material

Sep 12, 2026

Weekly Material: Extremely L.A. wall art on sale this weekend

Your one-minute, weekly roundup of L.A. Material’s best work.

Tomo Chien

Exclusive

Sep 8, 2026

Can Anyone Save USC?

After a decade of public crisis — and untold private drama — the university has an unlikely new leader. Can Beong-Soo Kim turn USC around?

Tomo Chien, +1

Exclusive

Sep 8, 2026

Full Transcript: President Beong-Soo Kim on USC's Future

It’s been a decade of turmoil at USC. Can Kim move the university forward?

Tomo Chien, +1

Newsletter

Sep 8, 2026

Inside USC’s battle to get back on track

Plus, the quasi-return of the L.A. Times Editorial Board, a jet ski debacle and the doc everyone is talking about.

Tomo Chien

Sep 5, 2026

Weekly Material: Call your librarian

Your one-minute, weekly roundup of L.A. Material’s best work.

Tomo Chien

Newsletter

Sep 3, 2026

Gavin Newsom’s big September test

Plus, Pablo Torre wins, Lucas Museum photos, and an Olympics traffic headache.

Julia Wick, +1

Weekly Material

Aug 29, 2026

Weekly Material: The best places to booze before a movie

Your one-minute, weekly roundup of L.A. Material’s best work.

Tomo Chien

Newsletter

Aug 26, 2026

L.A. wants to sell asphalt. But it can’t.

Plus, City Council staffers win union recognition, Dolly Parton’s legacy and Fight Agency’s gamble.

Tomo Chien

Exclusive

Aug 26, 2026

On the Ballot This November: Can L.A. Sell Asphalt?

For nearly 80 years, the city of L.A. has run an asphalt plant. Now it wants to make money off it — but voters must approve.

Tomo Chien

Aug 22, 2026

Weekly Material: The spectacular implosion of the L.A. Jazz Festival

Your one-minute, weekly roundup of L.A. Material’s best work.

Tomo Chien

Newsletter

Aug 20, 2026

The powerful L.A. nonprofit whose CEO has his wife and kids on payroll

Plus, what happened at the Sherman Oaks mayoral debate, sandwich heaven in Glendale and a controversial new consultant.

Matt Hamilton, +1

Newsletter

Aug 18, 2026

Is Huntington Drive the next York Boulevard?

Plus, the California Post gets duped, Buss family drama, and Waymo expands in SoCal.

Tomo Chien

Exclusive

Aug 18, 2026

Guess Who’s Snapping Up Storefronts in El Sereno?

The owners of DTLA’s Grand Central Market have bought six parcels on Huntington Drive. Brands like Echo Park-based Canyon Coffee are moving in.

Tomo Chien, +1

Aug 15, 2026

Weekly Material: The baffling saga of the unkillable L.A. health commission

Your one-minute, weekly roundup of L.A. Material’s best work.

Tomo Chien

Newsletter

Aug 12, 2026

Could USC make a play for JPL?

Plus, California’s coolest beach getaway, an error in L.A.’s homeless count, and a wildfire in Big Sur.

Tomo Chien

Exclusive

Aug 12, 2026

USC is Eyeing the JPL Contract

It’s the latest development in the high-stakes scramble to determine the future of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Tomo Chien

Aug 8, 2026

Weekly Material: The race to rule L.A. County

Your one-minute, weekly roundup of L.A. Material’s best work.

Tomo Chien

Aug 1, 2026

Weekly Material: The ex-gang members clearing encampments in Venice

Your one-minute, weekly roundup of L.A. Material’s best work.

Tomo Chien

Newsletter

Jul 30, 2026

Remember when people went to LAX to have a good time?

Plus, Disneyland bathroom breakdown, a critique of Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey and Santa Monica Waymo drama.

Tomo Chien

Jul 25, 2026

Weekly Material: The illegal parking free-for-all on Larchmont Boulevard

Your one-minute, weekly roundup of L.A. Material’s best work.

Tomo Chien

Newsletter

Jul 22, 2026

‘Carmageddon’: Inside the Larchmont Boulevard parking wars

Plus, Kaiser under scrutiny, makeover for the graffiti towers, and cigarette air quality index.

Tomo Chien

L.A. Mystery

Jul 22, 2026

Why is Everybody Parking on the Larchmont Boulevard Median?

“It’s the height of hubris to say 'I’m going to park here and it won’t be a problem for anybody else.'”

Tomo Chien

Tomo Chien

Weekly Material: An ugly neighborhood coyote feud

Does L.A. *still* owe you a parking ticket refund?

City to Audit Street Sweeping Tickets Following L.A. Material Investigation

Weekly Material: Extremely L.A. wall art on sale this weekend

Can Anyone Save USC?

Full Transcript: President Beong-Soo Kim on USC's Future

Inside USC’s battle to get back on track

Weekly Material: Call your librarian

Gavin Newsom’s big September test

Weekly Material: The best places to booze before a movie

L.A. wants to sell asphalt. But it can’t.

On the Ballot This November: Can L.A. Sell Asphalt?

Weekly Material: The spectacular implosion of the L.A. Jazz Festival

The powerful L.A. nonprofit whose CEO has his wife and kids on payroll

Is Huntington Drive the next York Boulevard?

Guess Who’s Snapping Up Storefronts in El Sereno?

Weekly Material: The baffling saga of the unkillable L.A. health commission

Could USC make a play for JPL?

USC is Eyeing the JPL Contract

Weekly Material: The race to rule L.A. County

Weekly Material: The ex-gang members clearing encampments in Venice

Remember when people went to LAX to have a good time?

Weekly Material: The illegal parking free-for-all on Larchmont Boulevard

‘Carmageddon’: Inside the Larchmont Boulevard parking wars

Why is Everybody Parking on the Larchmont Boulevard Median?

Does L.A. still owe you a parking ticket refund?