November 13, 2008
If there's one tradeoff — other than fire season — that Californians have come to accept in exchange for near-perfect weather, it's the ever-looming possibility of a major earthquake. Correspondent Vince Gonzales discovers that, despite being one of the most prepared cities in the world when it comes to quakes, Los Angeles has one major vulnerability — so-called "killer buildings." Meanwhile, commentator David L. Ulin says earthquakes are not just a force of nature, but a force of identity, as well. Living with the threat of quakes gives us a quintessentially Californian perspective, an appreciation of the ephemeral nature of the world we live in. Finally, taking leave from all this disaster talk, anchor Val Zavala introduces us to a group of nocturnal gardeners who turn patches of neglected public land into urban gardens within a matter of hours.