5A Identifying Local Opportunities

America is a country filled with opportunities to create change and improve society. While there is room for change all over the country, I stuck to five simple places around the United States, where opportunities for improvement exist. The first opportunity for change, that I found, comes from the Miami Dade Parks and Recreation services, and was presented in the Miami Herald article David Beckham, Donald Trump, and the Push to Make Miami Dade Parks more Profitable. This governmental service is struggled to generate profits in their area. Almost every park in the area is continuously subsidized by the government and the community, in order to keep them open. While many people have thought about hosting different events and festivals at the parks, these types of events are often incredibly expensive, and do nothing to continue to entice people to come back to the park and enjoy the outdoors on any typical day. The overall goal of the community, government, and key figures and celebrities, is to decrease public subsidies of parks, while also making tickets to parks cheaper for the public.

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%3A0913%21September%2B13&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E699C567E397F8

The second opportunity that I chose to identify comes from the Gainesville Sun, in an article titled Understanding Our High GRU Bills. The reason I chose this opportunity, to decrease the amount utilities are costing the people of Gainesville, is because I am also affected by these incredibly high bills, as I recently moved into a home in town. The reason bills have become so high has to deal mostly with Gainesville Regional Utilities' constantly changing electric rate structure, along with bundling, produces high bills for most people, especially those who can't afford the higher rates. Much of the confusion regarding these increasing prices and rates results from GRU's confusing rate classifications as well as the fact that some utilities are bundled in with other utilities that, to a certain extent, simply are not necessary, such as curbside trash pickup and handling of stormwater. There is also the fact that the amount of utilities you use, such as electricity, gas and water, really has little effect on the price citizens are actually paying, due to bundling and GRU's structuring of rates. No matter which way you look at it, there is an opportunity for reform to lower the prices of utilities in Gainesville, and assist the town's less fortunate citizens.
https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AGSGB%21Gainesville%2BSun%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0912%21September%2B12&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E6896466155BF0

The third opportunity I chose to target comes from the Washington Post, in Washington D.C., mostly because I have a lot of family that lives in the area. More specifically I chose to target a budding opportunity that exists in the area, as well as all across the country. The article, titled FDA Chief Calls Youth Use of Juul, Other E-Cigarrettes an Epidemic, discusses the concerns that have begun to spread regarding the most recent development of an incredibly popular electronic cigarette, called a juul. More specifically, the article discusses how the FDA and other organizations are looking to curb the use of these devices, specifically among the teenage population, where the juul is debatably the most popular. While the device was intended for adults looking to ween their way off smoking cigarettes, it has become a hit in the adolescent community and has presented some dangers for families and children. The goal is to ultimately limit the use of electronic cigarettes by teenagers, through legislation, fines, and the generation of awareness. The government has recognized a need to assist teens and families from using these types of devices, even when their use is not necessary, since most teenagers are not using the device to quit smoking. There is an opportunity to create awareness and a system to limit the e-cigarette use in the teenage community. http://go.galegroup.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T004&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=25&docId=GALE%7CA553962133&docType=Article&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=&prodId=AONE&contentSet=GALE%7CA553962133&searchId=R2&userGroupName=gain40375&inPS=true

The fourth opportunity I chose to target comes from New Jersey, and I chose to target this opportunity because it is the state that I am from. The article, titled The State Feels Crowded. So How Many Square Feet Does Each of Us Really Have? In the Most Densely Populated State in the Nation, Here are New Jersey's Most Densely Populated Communities, the issue of space in the state is discussed. Moreover, the article discusses that the cramped area in New Jersey has led to severe traffic patterns, and has created increased threats of accidents. There is also the issue that the incredibly dense population has led to more threats from pollution for more people in more areas. This mainly effects people living in northern New Jersey, which is more packed considering the proximity to cities like New York. There are opportunities to space out the state, such as creating more housing in less populated areas, and reduce the health and risk concerns associated with cramped living conditions. 

https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3ASTL2%21Star-Ledger%252C%2BThe%2B%2528Newark%252C%2BNJ%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0909%21September%2B09&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E542D8DC7AB1F8

The last opportunity I chose to target comes from Pittsburgh. The article, titled Funding Cuts Means Less ACA Assistance, discusses the issue of funding cuts to medicare programs and services. The cuts will most likely lead to six less staff members, and in turn lead to many people not receiving full coverage. The budget for this program has dropped by a little over 50 million dollars in the last two years, and has left many without jobs, and even more with reduced coverage, or no coverage at all. There are several opportunities for change in this area, whether it is in the form of nonprofit programs offering assistance to those whose coverage was stripped away, or a restructuring of budgets to ensure that the medicare programs receive the appropriate amount of funding, so that those that need coverage can be guaranteed coverage. There is also the issue that some people view the cuts as an attempt to undermine the Affordable Care Act, which could create even more issues in the area, and the nation. 

https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3APPGB%21Pittsburgh%2BPost-Gazette%2B%2528PA%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0913%21September%2B13&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E68FEA0D071158