5A - Identifying Local Opportunities

1.
"Despite delays, Brightline is now on track, says president"
https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0914%21September%2B14&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E6F70D543080B8

The story details the difficulties that the company, Brightline, has had with opening their new railway from Miami to West Palm Beach.

There are a few problems, including the issue of noise, delays to fire-and-rescue teams, and 7 fatalities due to Brightline trains in the last two years,.

The people with the problem are the citizens, especially near the construction areas. Brightline is a private company, so the people who suddenly have a train running near their house can't do much to complain, since it's not a government project. They also have to worry about the danger of the railways, both direct (7 deaths) and indirect (response times for EMS).

2.
"Miami moves to regulate gambling, likely derailing Magic City's Edgewater poker room"

https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0914%21September%2B14&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E702D49F588940

The gist of the story is that certain people on the commission board have moved to change zoning regulations specifically to screw one guy, Isadore Havenick.

The problem in the story is that Havenick is trying to open a gambling room, but the commissioners can't find a legal problem with his establishment, so they're changing the law to stop him.

There are two main parties that have a problem. Havenick and his associates want to open this business, and have even promised to not pursue slot machines or casino style games like roulette, as to not enable gambling problems in the community. On the other hand, the commissioners don't want this to happen, because their constituents have expressed concerns about a business that they percieve as shady.

3.
"Home Depot just recalled 210,000 of these hurricane helpers for possible shock hazard"

https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0912%21September%2B12&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E64565D4872468

The article doesn't say much that the title doesn't. 210,00 wet-vacs can cause a dangerous electrical shock when they get wet. That's not good.

The problem is that if you plug in your vacuum that is designed to remove water, the water that it's designed to remove will cause it to zap you pretty badly.

The person with the most immediate problem is the guy holding the vacuum. But more indirectly, Home Depot now has a pretty huge undertaking in their supply lines to get functional, non-zappy vacuums to their stores in the areas that are going to be hit by the hurricane.

4.

"UF makes huge change in graduation ceremony. Thousands of Gators don't like it."

https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0912%21September%2B12&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E65A14644B32E0

The major change in the graduation ceremonies are that students will no longer hear their names called. Instead, we can go to a sweaty, warm, two hour session of the administration patting itself on the back and preaching at us and all we have to do is pay them a bunch of money in fees as well as cap-and-gown. 

The problem is that nobody wants to go to a ceremony that isn't personal to the students. Without that, it's not much better than President Fuchs' twitter account. Not only that, many students feel robbed out of that special tradition. 

The people with the problems are the students. At the end of the day, we're the ones hurt by this. This is quite obviously in response to the thinly veiled racism that happened at the May graduation when the marshal kicked the students of color off the stage for celebrating. Instead of apologizing and dealing with the employee internally, they're ruining the experience for the students because they're afraid that they won't be able to control their employees and that could lead to some bad PR.

5.

"Stretch of Turnpike extension near Miami-Dade County line to be expanded to 8 lanes"

https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0907%21September%2B07&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E4F3E568837D90

The section of highway near the junction of the turnpike and I75 will be expanded from four to eight lanes. 

The problem is the obvious delays and noise from construction, that will conclude in 2022. Officials say that there will be sound barriers built for some "qualifying" neighborhoods, but surely there will be plenty more that don't fit the budget and are upset about it.

The people with the problem are those who will have to deal with the delayed commutes for the next four years and those who will have to deal with hearing dump trucks and excavators running.