(Want to get California Today by email? Forty-seven years ago, a much more powerful earthquake struck Sylmar — about an hour’s drive from the epicenter of Tuesday’s earthquake — killing 65 people and severely damaging four hospital campuses. A law passed in 1973 that ordered hospitals to strengthen their most vulnerable buildings has had unintended consequences across the state. (There is also a 2030 deadline for buildings to be able to not only withstand an earthquake, but also remain operational.) The hospital controversy underscores a recurring problem in California: Residents want safer buildings, but they fear the more immediate consequences of costly renovations.

Source: New York Times August 30, 2018 12:56 UTC