Opportunity #1: Jennifer Cabrera: Use resources to help people, not for feel-good causes
Jennifer Cabrera writes about the steps the city is currently taking to introduce a zero waste policy when their focus should be providing resources for those in need. Cabrera starts off this article by speaking of an encounter with a 15 year-old teenager who attempts to seek help but is faced with the harsh reality that help does not exist here within the vicinity of the city of Gainesville. Though psychiatric hospitals are located throughout the town, their focus is not to help people in the long run, but solely to help stabilize each individual seeking help. By providing resources that specifically help those with mental illnesses or issues they cannot face alone, having accessibility to a mental health counselor would ease not only the individual seeking help but ease an even larger issue that stems from lack of said resources; homelessness.
The zero waste policy is a great way to implement the use of reusable items in order to eliminate the need for waste, however, it becomes more of a burden for those without viable means of transportation. With the city of Gainesville focusing their attention on creating a waste free future, they are neglecting what is an apparent issue here in Gainesville. If there is a chance to provide mental health counseling to those in need, there is a chance that the percentage of those who are without a home will go down. The upbringing of a young adult typically determines their success further in life and if there are deep rooted issues that need to be brought to the surface, they should be addressed sooner rather than later. This issue directly affects those who live within the city of Gainesville who are faced with an unmet need regarding mental health counselling and the opportunity that should exist is increased accessibility to such services.
Opportunity #2: Adam Garcia: Nothing beats a bike
Adam Garcia writes about biking and the fact that biking is the most viable form of transportation in the city of Gainesville. Though Garcia is hesitant of this mode of transportation due to a recent accident his son was in, when it gets down to the reliability and environmental footprint of using a bike as transportation, nothing beats a bike.
The issue presented in this article is the fact that biking as a mode of transportation is quite dangerous when you consider the heavy traffic flow throughout the city of Gainesville. Though it may be dangerous at times, it still manages to eliminate the need for dealing with lack of parking spaces and being stuck in traffic when you need to be somewhere at a specific time. This is a problem to those who do not own a vehicle of their own and turn to other modes of transportation in order to get to where they need to be. The solution to this issue could be better attention to one’s surroundings to avoid getting into an accident. This goes for those who are riding the bike and the drivers who may carelessly control their vehicle without considering those who utilize those same roadways to get from one place to another.
Opportunity #3: Six-month snapshot shows crime up 10 percent
Cindy Swirko writes about the crime rate in Alachua county steadily rising. In the first half of the year of 2018, the crime rate was moderately steady. However, during the second half of the year, crime rates went up drastically. With an overall increase of 12.5 in crimes in Gainesville and its’ surrounding areas, it is quite a large percentage since the crime rate statewide is a mere 8 percent. The issue presented in this article is the increase of crime among the city. The problem is definitely problematic for law enforcement and officials, but it is also an issue for those who work and study here in Gainesville. Crime in our area is never looked at lightly and with there being such an increase in these rates, it becomes a problem for all and it is not limited to only one individual or organization.
Opportunity #4: Hipp deep: Gainesville theater struggles under state cuts
Scottie Andrew writes about the slashing that occurred in funding for the Hippodrome theater, which also posed a threat to multiple art related organizations in the city of Gainesville. The article states that the Hippodrome requires an approximation of $200,000 to stay open and running year round and the funding they received this past year was nearly $10,000. This is a major cut back on funding and this issue directly impacts artists in the area who are dependent on the Hippodrome. The local artists who devote their lives to this theater, along with performers and staff would find the lack of funding problematic. These individuals would have to worry for their job security or rather lack thereof with the minimal amount of funding.
Opportunity #5: Rascally rabbits causing issues in Gainesville neighborhood
Andrew Caplan writes about rascally rabbits that have wreaked havoc in local neighborhoods. Von “Aspen” Ruber is being held liable for the rampant rabbit population, as he has been known to breed rabbits on his property. Though this may seem harmless, the large population of rabbits often leads to many loose rabbits among neighborhood streets, many of them often found dead or injured. The issue being addressed is the fact that the rabbits are running off of Ruber’s property. This is problematic for those who inhabit those neighborhoods. Neighbors are fed up with rabbits ending up on their properties, whether they are dead or alive, it is an inconvenience.
Hey! I love the article about the rabbit problem in Gainesville. I think its amazing there are so many local news reports in Gainesville, and it makes me happy that not all of them are horrible sad news. On the other hand, articles like crime rise rates make me wish i can do more for our county, other than just finding news stories about them. Perhaps in the future.
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