Identifying Local Opportunities
Your mission is to identify 5
potential opportunities and describe these opportunities in a post.
o “LA
fire revives push for sprinklers in older high rises”
o https://www.gainesville.com/ZZ/news/20200130/la-fire-revives-push-for-sprinklers-in-older-high-rises
o
Many
LA residents were displaced when flames destroyed a 1960s-era Los Angeles
apartment tower, injuring 13 people this week. Many are wondering why this apartment
complex’s management failed to install sprinklers. City officials said that
after the fires in 2013 “that it shouldn’t take another tragedy” to get sprinklers
into older buildings, but it did. Los Angeles
Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas recommended in 2017 that sprinklers be installed in
all high rise buildings, that did not already have them. At the time, the
estimated cost of this was $6,000. These fires were said to have destroyed the
apartment complex before the firefighters could get up there. Jacob Woocher of
the Los Angeles Tenants Union claims that, Landords neglecting fire safety is
an ongoing issue. Two firefighters received minor burns as they scrambled to reach
the apartments. After hundreds of firefighters attempted to save the building,
the building was deemed too dangerous to inhabit, causing 339 tenants to find
new homes. This problem affects the residents of LA high rises, the firefighters,
the LAPD, and the landlords of properties in LA.
o UF student dies days after being struck by
vehicle
o Denise Griffith, a UF student has died after
being struck by a vehicle in east Gainesville Monday evening. The 21-year old
English language and literature major, was his on 2500 East University Avenue
at 8:16 pm, says Sgt. Michael West of the Gainesville Police Department. Griffith
was immediately transported to UF Health Shands Hospital, in critical condition
following the accident. Denise was very involved at UF, as an avid member of
many clubs as well as a resident assistant. The problem faced is that a fellow
UF student passed away after being hit by a car. This affects the student body
as a whole, the Griffith family, the person who hit Denise, and the UFPD.
o Future
of Gainesville Lucky’s Market remains unclear
o With the recent closing of Lucky’s Market located
at 1459 NW 23rd Ave, the shelves cleared out with the announcement it
would close February 12th. Recent reports indicate that Aldi’s Discount
Grocers are looking to purchase six Lucky’s Market stores, including the
Gainesville location. With the recent closing of Lucky’s Market, many workers
have been laid off and are patiently waiting to hear back from local stores
such as Whole Foods Market, Fresh Market, Winn-Dixie and Publix. The problem with
Lucky’s Market closing is affecting the former Lucky’s employees, those who
shop at Lucky’s and the owner of the property that leases their land to the
property owner.
o
UF Health monitors rumors of coronavirus
spreading to Gainesville
o With a notice that a UF student’s family
member traveled from China to Gainesville before the corona virus quarantine
broke out, UF Health Directors were made aware and monitored the student who was
in contact with this family member. Up until this point, the threat of the
corona virus is still “relatively low.” The rumor of this traveler was reached
through a popular Chinese social media app, We Chat. A translation of this
message reads: “Friends in Florida, note that a UF parent flew over from Wuhan for
the Chinese New Year. Please be careful. Wear a mask and carry hand sanitizer.
If an outbreak occurs, report it.” After the UF International Center identified
four people who traveled from China to Gainesville within the last two weeks,
none of them traveled from Wuhan, UF spokesman Steve Orlando says. The problem presented is the potential threat
for a corona virus outbreak in Gainesville. The problem is UF student, faculty
and staff and Gainesville/Alachua County Residents.
o Local
vape shops lose profits due to recent tobacco law
o
With
the signing of a recent bill by President Donald Trump raising the buying age of
tobacco to 21, many local smoke/vape shops are experiencing a decrease in
profits. Mary Ewing, owner of Escape 2 Vape smoke shop claimed “30 percent of
our customers were between 18-20 years old.” This bill makes it illegal for these
business owners to sell tobacco products to those under the age of 21. With the
vaping epidemic, this seems like a good idea for the health of the future generation,
but ultimately this law will affect the profit margins of these vape shops. Not
surprisingly, many of these vape shop owners claim their products are a healthy
alternative for smokers, but with many attractive flavors such as Banana Ice,
Melon Ice, Cantaloupe and many more, these vape shops are attracting non-smokers
who are adopting a nicotine addiction. Many of these vape shops are claiming to
have lost at least 25% of their business since the law was passed. The problem
is mainly non-smokers who are between the ages of 18-20 and vape shops.
