San Pedro

Heavy rains Sunday afternoon exacerbated a subsiding roadway in the L.A. suburb of San Pedro, leaving gaping holes and exposing plumbing and other infrastructure housed beneath the street.

Even though the butane storage tank meets all state and federal regulatory requirements, residents do not feel safe with a 40-year-old tank that contains up to 25 million gallons of highly flammable butane. Residents fear a potential catastrophe.

San Pedro, a port city near Los Angeles, is looking to boost its image with a 1.2 billion dollar makeover. Plans include a promenade, a cruise terminal, and a vibrant commercial district and could take up to 10 years.

San Pedro, CA is the scene of a battle between developers and locals, and local neighborhood councils are using increasingly sophisticated organizing tools to bring residents to the table.