Identifying Local Opportunities
1) “An Important addition to mental health funding”
- By Carrie Seidman at the Sarasota Herald- Tribune
- The author of the article is personally influenced about mental health as she shares about her son’s challenges and how people she knew reached out to her for help as their child suffers. Sarasota county saw a problem with the neglect of mental health funding and many parents are seeking help for their children. The county is attempting to establish a mental health care tax special district to address to problem. The issue is that there are many different opinion on whether this is a good use of funds, since there is already money going towards the issue. Desperate parents cannot afford these expenses for the services and care their children need, and the county is trying to come up with innovative ways to find a solution. The sarasota community is very supportive of the victims of mental health issues and many organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness and The Academy at Glengary are helping them recover and find jobs.
- The problem is that there are not enough funds in the county to help parents pay for mental health services for their children. The problem worsens as county citizens have different views of where their funds should be going.
- The people who cannot afford help for their mental illness are the ones with the problem. This includes parents who cannot afford care for their children with mental illness, or adults with mental illness that cannot provide for themselves.
2) “Coronavirus outbreak being monitored by UF Health officials” By AJ Bafer from The Independent Florida Alligator.
- In the article, it explains how UF students, faculty, and staff received an email regarding preventative information about staying healthy as the coronavirus shifts the the North American continent. Many students at the University travel to and from China as they participate in the international programs. These students are being monitored to prevent any more cases from spreading. They explain how the coronavirus has no cure and how it is similar to the flu or common cold. It states that this is not an alarming case as of now, but students should still be taking preventative cautions and to be aware.
- The problem presented in the story is that UF faculty, students and staff are in danger of receiving the coronavirus. Now, travel to and from China for study abroad students are being monitored due to the outbreak in the United States.
- The people who have the problem are UF faculty, students, and staff as they are at risk to acquire the virus.
3) “Rental cars were stolen from SRQ airport. Hertz worker was running side hustle, cops say” By Jessica De Leon in the Bradenton Herald
- On January 30th, a report went out about on how there was an arrest of an employee at Hertz car rental at the Sarasota Airport, as he stole 10 cars to run a side hustle. Police started the investigation as cars were disappearing from the airport. The police found that an employee used the business’s cars and rented them out to make his own profit. The criminal was released hours after.
- The problem is that in the Sarasota airport, there have been have been 10 stolen cars being used to run a side hustle to make a profit. This creates an unsafe environment for travelers and workers, and will negatively affect tourism flow through this airport.
-The people who have the problem would be the the Hertz car rental business as well as the customers at the Sarasota airport such as car renters and flyers.
4) “Amid backlash over anti-LGBTQ schools, Florida lawmakers push even less voucher oversight” By Emily L. Mahoney from the Tampa Bay Times
- Florida schools have been found making policies that are negatively directed towards the LGBTQ community. Investigation found that many private and religious schools are not allowing the LGBTQ students to attend their school. It also was written in policy that being gay or transgender was a sin. A bill was passed that is meant to increase the amount of private school vouchers so more people are eligible to go, but now that this prejudice information was reported many companies stop donating money that went to the vouchers. This was an act to show support to the LGBTQ community and be against the unfair policies. Legislation is now trying to come up with a way to remove the discrimination from schools.
- The problem is many Florida school hold policies that are considered to be anti-LGTBQ. There are many schools that are mistreating these people and taking away their rights and freedom.
- The people who have the problem would be the people who classify themselves to be in the LGBTQ community.
5) "No more public money for Tampa's Downtowner car service" By the Tampa Bay Editorial Board from the Tampa Bay Times
- Due to a shortage of public funds, the Tampa Downtowner car service has been cut. The Downtowner was a similar service as Uber, but it did not cost money. There was an average amount of 448 people a day who used this service. The Hillsborough County transit agency has donated money so the service can continue for another eight months, but will soon meet to see if more funds will be given. Hillsborough is challenging that there be a countrywide transportation tax to fund services such as the Downtowner, but as for now the community is unhappy with where the funds are being distributed.
-The problem is that since public funding has been lowered, the government has decided to stop the free car service. Now, many people and students in the Tampa Bay area will have to pay for other ride services or walk if it is too expensive.
- The people who have the issue would be the citizens in the Tampa Bay area that use public transportation methods.
You did a great job picking the right stories. I had some issue finding stories that were about some problem, but every one of your five stories had a local issue that affects a lot of people. What really resonated with me is that your customer really knows best, and that a conscious consumer is your best friend in entrepreneurship. When reading the opinion pieces, i found a lot of people "complaining" about local issues, all of which have entrepreneurial solutions. I know a few of your pieces were opinion, because we had some of the same ones. Keep up the good work
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