Identifying Local Opportunities
1. Baboons living their
best life
Title: “Baboons used
55-gallon barrel to escape from San Antonio research facility, officials say”
Description: In this
very short, and quite funny piece written by MySanAntonio, a couple of
baboons became creative and managed to escape from their containment in a
research facility. Specifically, four baboons rolled a 55-gallon barrel upright
against a wall and climbed right over the wall within the facility.
Problem: The problem may
not be that serious, but it comes from the facilities lack of awareness for
allowing them to even have the opportunity to escape. This problem seems
laughable at first, though I am positive zoos across the world have, at some
point, troubled over animals disappearing. Apart from the physical danger
animals impose on humans, the animal(s) are exposed to new environments where
they become vulnerable to new predators or human hunting.
Who has the problem:
Zoos, research facilities, homeowners with exotic animals… basically anyone who
is actively containing animals - for pleasure, business, or science.
2. Capping Uber drivers
in Miami
Title: “Miami Beach Commissioners
Want to Cap Uber and Lyft Cars”
Link:
https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/miami-man-guilty-of-bribing-ecuadorian-oil-officials-10725063
Description:
Recently, New York City became the first city in the United States to put a cap
on new Uber drivers (along with all other similar companies), and Miami wants
to follow suit. Miami Beach commissioners are trying to reverse a bill that
made it unlawful for local governments to regulate such “ride-hailing”
companies. Essentially, Uber lost a huge lobbying battle in New York, and now
Miami Beach legislators are smelling blood in the water. If trip services like
Uber and Lyft are not restricted, local taxi companies will quickly run out of
customers and have to close shop.
Problem:
The main issue with Uber and city officials is control over the market.
Specifically, people who cannot drive or do not wish to pay such high prices
for a taxi. From their business platform, taxi companies simply cannot afford
to offer such competitive rates as Uber or Lyft. In close, I do not believe it
is a traffic issue. Uber drivers drive just as much on their free time as
anyone else is allowed to do so (as they own the car), while taxi drivers only
drive when they’re looking for customers, assuming they find one.
Who
has the problem: Ride-hailing services, city officials, and anyone looking for
a car transportation.
3.
Colorado wildfires
Title:
“Colorado wildfire update: High heat raises red flag warning”
Link:
Description:
In this post, the author illustrates that multiple wildfires are still burning
through Colorado. Although most of them are being contained and aren’t too
serious, these large wildfires are still lingering throughout the state, with
only rain or snowfall being the best medicine to dry out the fires (not exactly
the best plan).
The
problem: As described in the post, high temperatures and dry winds across
Colorado are keeping the old wildfires relevant while providing fuel for new
ones. Apart from the weather, which cannot be controlled by local officials,
this problem creates real concern for residents who live in high-risk wildfire
areas - of whom will have to abandon their house and belongings if the threat
presents itself. Moreover, there may be inconsistencies with the communication
between Colorado officials to warn citizens in high-risk zones.
Who
has the problem: Inhabitants in dry, high risk zones; Colorado state officials;
Colorado wildlife.
4.
Hunger in Alachua County
Title:
“Hunger
in Alachua County is real, but groups work to help”
Link:
https://www.gainesville.com/news/20180912/hunger-in-alachua-county-is-real-but-groups-work-to-help
Description:
In this piece, the author highlights the growing problem of hunger in Alachua
County, Florida. The highlight of this article is easily the incredible work
Bread of the Mighty, a Feeding America partner, has been providing the Alachua
community. For example, Bread of the Mighty (operating mainly through
donations) distributed over 7.7 million pounds of food from 2016-2017, where
“every pound equals 1.2 meals, and every dollar donated can provide up to 10
meals.” The community engagement of Bread of the Mighty is a beacon of hope for
countless underprivileged children and adults in Alachua county.
Problem:
Karen Woolfstead, Communication and Development Director at Bread of the Mighty
answered this question perfectly: “It’s not that there’s not enough food; it’s
access to food. There’s no food shortage; there’s access shortage for certain
people.” Having just moved to Gainesville a month ago, I am not aware of the
current unmet needs citizens of Alachua county are facing, and thus I am
putting complete faith that this is the main problem contributing to the
widespread hunger here. Moreover, who are those “certain people” and how can
they be directly helped?
Who
has the problem: Underprivileged citizens in Alachua County, low-income
families, or people who depend on soup kitchens/churches for nourishment.
5.
Muslim women subject to inappropriate airport search
Title:
“Muslim woman says TSA subjected her to inappropriate search”
Description:
A 54-year-old Muslim woman, who was wearing the traditional Muslim headscarf,
was subject to a search at a Boston airport that “bordered on sexual assault.”
It is not mentioned in the story if there is any viable evidence that this
search, completed by a TSA employee, was deemed sexually abusive or not.
Problem:
The delicate nature of TSA employees searching or patting down travelers with
no factual reason to do so. Looking at it from the perspective of the TSA, it
is their job to randomly search passengers, suspicious or not, to avoid
horrible tragedies in the air. That being said, I do not believe this a race
issue, as I have seen all races and cultures being patted down (including me)
at every airport I’ve passed through. Overall, it is an issue of the TSA hiring
respectable employees -- yet any employee can gradually become too touchy or
out of line, so how would the TSA prevent that from occuring? Again, anything
involving human behavior is a delicate subject and very challenging to fix.
Who
has the problem: Anyone who flies through the air is vulnerable to experiencing
this; TSA.
You did a great job organizing this assignment, but for next time I would maybe choose some articles that have more certain opportunities. For example, an animal escaping from its cage is a problem although I’m not sure that there is a sufficient opportunity that emerged from that situation. I could be mistaken but it is something you should possibly consider.
ReplyDeleteDear Evan,
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job on the organizaiton of your assignment. Before even reading it, it is easy to locate all your points and information about your points. Furthermore, I believe you did a very good job in taking time to research good articles that correlated to very good ideas about unmet needs. I remember reading about racism in airport and TSA so I found it really interesting to read about your 5th point. Also I like how you picked to write about newspaper in Alachua County - because living in Gainesville we should know more about out county! However, remember the assignment was based on local newspaper. Did you live in Boston or San Antonio? If so - thats awesome, I went to school in Boston for a year and I loved the city !
Hi Evan,
ReplyDeleteI found the local opportunities you found all very interesting, but the one concerning Uber and Lyft in Miami particularly stood out to me. I am a frequent user of Uber here in Gainesville, and chatting with drivers about Uber as a company, and driving for them, has unearthed some interesting information that lines up with what you found in your local opportunity as well. One would think that Uber drivers stand to lose if Uber becomes regulated, especially in a large city like Miami, but I've found the opposite is most likely true. One of the most common complaints I've heard from Uber drivers is the way in which Uber bleeds them dry of their ride profits, leaving them with little more than what is necessary to keep up with vehicle maintenance and gas. The implementation of regulations and limits on Uber as a company in these large cities would most likely have the unintended side-effect of also making driving for Uber more profitable for drivers, if only because there may be fewer on the roads.