Identifying Local Opportunity

1. Campus blue lights not used for emergency situations often, data shows

https://www.alligator.org/news/campus-blue-lights-not-used-for-emergency-situations-often-data/article_18d5adfa-4407-11ea-8944-73d007b022df.html

This article goes hand in hand with my previous blog entry on the safety of men and women. This article explains that the emergency lights on our own campus are often not used for emergencies. The article describes the importance of these lights and what they can do for students. Within the article, however, they asked a student about why it might be that the blue lights are not used often and he replied that it could be because they are outdated and that a student can much easier contact police on their cell phone. I think this is true, the blue lights are spaced far apart so if you're in between two and something happens, you have to run to one of them. To continue, the police response is not immediate after you activate one of these lights. 

2. Gainesville Is The City Affected The Most By Poverty In Florida, Analysis Reports

https://www.wuft.org/news/2019/08/19/gainesville-is-the-city-affected-the-most-by-poverty-in-florida-analysis-reports/ 

This article explains just how bad poverty is in Gainesville. The article starts off with interviewed responses from a local teacher who says that her full-time job, as well as her husband's, are just able to make ends meet for them and their 15-month-old daughter. The problem here is the wages people make versus the cost of living. The ratio is just too high for the average working person. Many people across Gainesville are experiencing this problem. 

3.The battle over Lake O levels: Toxic algae, water supplies at forefront

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20200131/battle-over-lake-o-levels-toxic-algae-water-supplies-at-forefront 

This article is one that is relevant to the surrounding area of where I grew up, Stuart, Florida. Lake Okeechobee, being an hour from where my family is from, is infested with toxic algae. The efforts to combat this has been a problem due to the water levels of the lake. This is causing drainage to counties such as Martin, where I'm from, and Palm Beach. This affects not only those in Okeechobee but the residents of Martin and Palm Beach counties as well. 

4.Potholes plague Gainesville

https://www.alligator.org/news/potholes-plague-gainesville/article_b3876c2a-7e66-11e8-b4c0-f70fe6c32992.html

This article explains the problem Gainesville has with potholes. This may not seem like a huge deal but this is a problem many can relate to and fall victim to. Many motorists can find themselves in a pickle much like Justin Green did. Potholes are doing things like blowing tires and just ruining cars.

5. Living in Gainesville: From tents to shelters, the homeless hope for a home

https://www.alligator.org/news/living-in-gainesville-from-tents-to-shelters-the-homeless-hope/article_5ebc0e02-46e9-11e9-9475-2bf166ec87b7.html

This article can kind of relate to my first one. This article explains the homeless problem we have in Gainesville and the greater Alachua County area. Many people are affected by this problem. Those who are actually homeless, those who see the homeless on the roads, and those who use their money and time to help the homeless. While the number of documented homeless people is declining, they did count an estimate of about 641 homeless people in Alachua County.  There are homeless shelters but they can only house so many people. I think that this problem affects a lot of people and there should be something to help.