Identifying Local Opportunities
Article 1: “Get past platitudes on water supply” by The Daytona Beach News-Journal
Summary: The article begins by talking about the current election year and how candidates are promising to “secure Florida’s water supply,” yet no actual details have been said about how the candidates plan to do this. The article then continues by outlining the current issues that affect state’s water supply such as red tide, sea level rise, pollution, and over consumption. There is a miscorrelation between the threat to our water supply and the current solutions being practiced. The article ends by stating that Florida votes cannot afford to let the issue be ignored by the candidates, as the future of the State is at risk.
Problem: The article states two problems: voters are unaware of the actual plans of the candidates have for addressing the danger that the Florida water supply is in and the danger that Florida’s springs and aquifer faces. If no proper action is taken, the future of Florida is at risk.
Who: All citizens of the state are at risk, as the destruction of the Florida springs and aquifer would affect all of us tremendously.
Article 2: “Understanding our high GRU bills” by Jim Konish
Summary: According to Jim Konish, a utility attorney, the bills from Gainesville Regional Utilities are hard to understand and cause some clients to pay more than they actually use. He describes GRU’s billing method as confusing bundled with many other items. Konish continues by describing the different tiers GRU uses to charge customers differently based on the amount of electricity and water they use. Apparently, GRU recently increased tier 1 electricity rate while lowering tier 2 electricity rate which has a negative effect on the poor. The author also calls out GRU for falsely claiming that they lowered electric rate, when in actuality they double electric rate and cut “fuel adjustment charges” in half.
Problem: Gainesville Regional Utilities’ bills are confusing causing customers to overpay. Most people like me don’t really question our bills as we don’t really understand them. We just pay them without questioning.
Who: This problem affects everyone who has GRU as their utility company.
Article 3: “Alachua County faces dangerous changes to climate” by John Ward
Summary: The articles sites many recent incidents of heat waves, fires and floods that have occurred throughout the globe. A phenomenon known as atmospheric blocking occurs when air currents become stuck in one place for a period of time. Atmospheric blocking leads to higher temperatures, worsening heat waves and fires. Research suggest that overheating causes hurricanes to slow down meaning there is a greater period of time in which the hurricane makes landfall. This causes the effects of flooding to be worse. Florida is at the greatest risk of climate change as we are tied for first in the country for the difference between summer and winter rainfall. Meaning we would not only get hurricanes and rain, but also heat waves and droughts. A study by climate change ranks Gainesville in 13th in cities projected to have a heat index above 105 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050.
Problem: Climate change will cause a slew of extreme weather throughout the World. Florida is at high risk as we are in a hotbed for hurricanes and heat waves.
Who: This problem affects the everyone in the world as a whole, but the article suggests that Floridians are at a greater risk than others.
Article 4: “Affordable housing plan needs fine-tuning” by Robert Mounts
Summary: Recent affordable housing plans have been implemented by the city which gives developers incentives to build affordable housing in new subdivisions across the city. While the idea has it merits, Robert Mounts argues that the project would lead to developers creating multifamily housing in single-family neighborhoods. As well, he argues that most of the new housing units would be used more by “affluent college students” and not by the poor.
Problem: Affordable housing plans would invade “family-oriented” neighborhoods. As well, the developed units would cater more to short-term renters.
Who: The people at risk are those who live in single-family neighborhoods across Gainesville.
Article 5: “A lesson on racial equity work” by Cleveland Tinker
https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB57BE7FF6D8A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F16E5F09824C9D4D8
Summary: History has lead to racial inequity in communities that leads to negative impacts on colored children. The author pushes for a children’s council to be established in Alachua County. Tinker states that the Broward County Children's Services Council has lead to a 70% decrease in juvenile arrest, a 20% increase in high school graduation for black teens, as well as the decrease in teen pregnancy. The author argues that the racial disparities in Alachua County are similar to those of Broward County, and the establishment of a children's council would have the same positive effects.
Problem: Racial inequity exists as a result of the countries terrible past.
Who: The people at risk are young black children.
Hey Czar! I really like all your opportunities, as they diverse in topic and are relevant to everyone and has the opportunity to be solved. I know for me personally, looking up current local news was eyeopening in two ways; there is a bounty of unsolved problems being looked over and that there's problems in our local area that indirectly affect us. I think if you continue to look into these topics, you can find ideas to put in place to help solve or at least minimize the harshness of the situations.
ReplyDeleteI can just feel the climate change affecting the seasons time! I remember that this fall was like a month late and the summer is becoming so long! I really fear that these seasonal changes and temperature shifts due to global warming would affect our future generations. I like how you examined our local opportunities and how you re-emphasized them regarding to our assignments.
ReplyDelete