Identifying Local Opportunities

Story 1:

• Title: Legalizing Marijuana Divides Candidates For Governor
• Link: http://www.gainesville.com/news/20180601/legalizing-cannabis-divides-candidates-for-governor
• What this article boils down to is that the Democratic party candidates that are running for governor in the state of Florida are for legalization and the decriminalization of marijuana. On the other hand, the Republican party is opposing the idea. 
• The problem presented in the article is to obtain a referendum in favor of recreational marijuana use. Even though marijuana has been approved for medicinal use, recreational use is the next step of decriminalization. 
• Who has this problem? Well, the opposition from the Republican party is a problem for the pro-marijuana Democratic party. Also, firms and investors who are ready to enter the market. Once legalized for recreational consumption by people 21 or older, marijuana will become a lucrative legal agricultural commodity. So, the time lapse upon marijuana's recreational legalization process is costing individuals and the state of Florida's economy tons of potential revenues.  

Story 2: 

• Title: Gainesville's Whole Foods opens to long lines
• Link: http://www.gainesville.com/news/20180509/gainesvilles-whole-foods-opens-to-long-lines
• The Gainesville Sun was present at the grand opening of the new Whole Foods grocery store in Gainesville off of Archer road. The article glorifies the new grocery store and how happy the people of Gainesville are to have a Whole Foods but the title grabbed my attention. "Gainesville's Whole Foods opens to long lines" sounds like a bug to me. Waiting in line a long line at a grocery store has always been a pet peeve of mine. 
• There is not necessarily a problem presented in the article but the title influenced me to create an opportunity belief. My opportunity belief is that most people do not like the long lines spawned by the favorability of a place shopping. 
• Who has this problem? For one, people who do not like waiting in lines. Also, this problem can occur to those who do not budget their time efficiently and still need to grocery shop. 

Story 3: 

• Title: Who's allowed to charge a fee for using credit cards in Florida?
• Link: http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/personalfinance/Who-s-allowed-to-charge-a-fee-for-using-credit-cards-in-Florida-_168738971
• This article explains how only municipal or government monetary transaction services can charge a convenience fee if an individual chooses to pay with a credit card. The governmental entities mentioned in the article justify the convenience fees charged as the "cost of doing business". 
• The problem presented in the article is the amount someone is charged for paying their bills with a credit card. The article states that the Hillsborough County Tax Collector's office charges a $2.95 fee for motor vehicle transactions and a 2.35% fee on in-person credit card transactions for motor vehicles. 
• Who has this problem? The residents of each county that these tax regulations apply to. The article mentioned a resident of Hillsborough County saying that they will only pay by cash or check just to avoid the convenience fee. 

Story 4: 

• Title: Most Florida nursing homes aren't ready with back up power
• Link: http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/06/01/most-florida-nursing-homes-arent-ready-with-backup-power/
• The article talks about the state of Florida's push for better backup power sources for assisted living and retirement homes. The catastrophic hurricane Irma is what brought this issue to light. During Irma, many retirement facilities were without power for periods of time, which was strenuous on elders and the state of Florida wants to put a stop to this. The state is now implementing a law that requires all retirement homes and assisted living facilities to have access to at least 96 hours of back power once power is lost. 
• The problem presented in this article is that retirees are in crucial need of power to accommodate their living conditions to prosper. Without power in Florida, one's place of living can become almost uninhabitable, especially for elderly people. 
• Who has this problem? Retirees who are stuck in their homes that are uncomfortable due to a power outage. Also, the family members of the residents of the retirement communities. The weather may be too rough to go down and help their family member out. If there is no power, no calls can be made after a prolonged period of time. Therefore, the family members are under a huge amount of stress, wondering if their family member is ok or alive and vice versa. 

Story 5: 

• Title: Miami's condo king breaks silence on sea level rise comment: 'Maybe I had too many drinks'
• Link: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article210857319.html
• This article puts big-time developer Jorge Perez under a microscope for a comment he said. Jorge Perez does not recollect saying the comment that was exploited in this news article. Jeff Goodell claims to have approached Perez at a party at the Perez Art Museum to ask him if the sea level rise has hindered his developing along the coastline. Jorge Perez responded with a quote that startled everyone: "In 20 or 30 years, someone is going to find a solution for this. Besides by that time, I'll be dead, so what does it matter?" The article is simply an interview with him, clearing up his non-eco friendly comment.
• The problem presented in this article speech before thought. Nowadays everything is very sensitive to one's words. Due to this societal sensitivity, we all must be unbiasedly articulate with the words we portray, especially when you're a big time developer in Miami. 
• Who has this problem? Well, obviously Jorge Perez does but honestly, most of society does as well. From my experience, the majority of people speak before they think instead think before they speak. This a virtue that is learned with time and is hard for young minds to grasp.