Identifying Local Opportunities

5 Opportunities

1.
- SunRail: Promise or peril? Central Florida's transit crisis - Local Viewpoint
- https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AORLB%21Orlando%2BSentinel%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0912%21September%2B12&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E63B592D72DB70
- The SunRail, a public form of transportation in central Florida, has not reached the expected popularity and met its goal in reducing traffic on highways like I4. The system could connect to the Lynx bus system, run 7 days a week, and for 18-20 hours a day. It could also connect to the Orlando International Airport that already has a fully functional station ready for use. As of now there is no incentive to ride the SunRail because there aren't many bus connections, or there aren't services on the weekends. People who do ride the SunRail are reducing pollution, helping highway traffic, and possibly saving money on car payments. The League of Women Voters of Orange County are going to try to increase awareness soon.
- The SunRail, central Florida's potential main form of public transportation is being vastly underused potentially because it is inconvenient at this time and needs upgrades, or simply because there isn't much awareness about it.
- The problem exists for many people, including the public, who are suffering because a system isn't in place to make the SunRail a more viable option, saving time and money.

2.
- High waters might pose big problems - Hidden docks, wakes risk to boaters, property
- https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AORLB%21Orlando%2BSentinel%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0912%21September%2B12&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E63B57E914C4F8
- Orlando has received much more rain than normal this year, so far. It has caused the water levels in lakes to rise to a near historic level, even before hurricane season. This has resulted in homeowners docks getting submerged, and out of sight of boaters. The country commissioner is trying to bring attention to this and getting the homeowners to put flags on their docks so they stick up and are visible. Many people also like to wake board, obviously creating large wakes. This could potentially bear the issue of water getting pushed into people's homes and patios because of the already high water levels.
- The problem is that water levels are at an almost historic level in height and are covering docks, making them basically invisible to boaters. It also poses a risk of waves pushing water into people's homes.
- Obviously, the boaters have this problem because they can't see docks, but homeowners also have it if their dock gets damaged or water is pushed into their homes.

3.
- Rollback of environmental rules puts children at risk - Local Viewpoint
- https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AORLB%21Orlando%2BSentinel%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0909%21September%2B09&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E53CB32EE8CDE8
- The writer was a part of a sharecropper family in North Carolina as a child, using pesticides that had severe health risks, but no companies warned of such risks. He also served in Vietnam and was exposed to another harmful chemical called Agent Orange, of which they also were not told the risks. As a legislator he found out companies were spraying pesticides in the air while workers were in the field, sometimes with their children. This was shown to have effects on those children, who are now adults. He says efforts to reduce the Clean Air Act have begun under this administration. A report states that people of color are of a much greater risk to these pollutants because of where they live. Chlorpyrifos, an extremely dangerous chemical, recently had its near ban halted.
- The problem is that the bans on some of these dangerous chemicals are being slowed down or halted, for a variety of speculative reasons.
- The problem exists for children who are affected by the chemicals, and for the people of color who live in areas that are more exposed to these harmful chemicals.

4.
- Gas, oil prices swirl upward as Gordon threatens Golf Coast
- https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AORLB%21Orlando%2BSentinel%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0905%21September%2B05&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E3EEA90E75EB68
- Gas prices rose overnight before Tropical Storm Gordon was potentially going to hit the Golf Coast. Wholesale prices were up 4 cents, meaning gas station prices will likely also rise. Much of the country's gas is refined where the storm was potentially going to hit, making many traders nervous. It is of low concern relative to Hurricanes Irma and Harvey, and for those storms the refineries held up well to the winds. The main concern for them is the flooding, as some refineries were shut down for a time being because workers couldn't get there. For Harvey, fuel prices rose 50 cents a gallon in Orlando, for Gordon it will be much less.
- The problem is that fuel prices could rise because of a risk of a tropical storm hitting oil refineries.
- It exists for oil companies, and people who want to get gas because it will cost them more.

5.
- 7-foot lizard terrorizes Davie family - Asian water monitor can be purchased legally on internet
- https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AORLB%21Orlando%2BSentinel%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0903%21September%2B03&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E3402181C045D0
- The Asian water monitor, a 7-foot lizard, that can be purches on the Internet for less than $200, is terrorizing a South Florida family. You can buy them with credit cards online, with no restrictions. Their diet consists of fish, frogs, and newborn rodents. There are already restrictions on some exotic animals such as Burmese pythons, green anacondas, and Nile monitors, as they are extremely dangerous if they escape captivity. For the past 2 weeks a south Florida family has been calling trappers about a 7-foot, 150 pound Asian water monitor they have seen around their home. They are worried because they have children who could be put in danger. The water monitor was probably a pet that was released. People believe there should be at least some restrictions on your ability to buy these types of animals, such as proof of cages to make sure they don't escape. The Asian water monitor hasn't started a population large enough to sustain breeding in Florida yet, but it could happen if this continues.
- The problem is that these exotic animals, like the Asian water monitor, keep either escaping or getting released because families don't think they can take care of them anymore.
- The problem exists for basically everyone in Florida who happens to live near someone who owns an exotic pet who happens to escape or gets released. The pets could potentially hurt humans and even native wildlife.