Identifying Local Opportunities

1.     5 Indicted on Murder Charges in Overdose Deaths in Jacksonville

https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20200128/5-indicted-on-murder-charges-in-overdose-deaths-in-jacksonville

Jacksonville is experiencing a major narcotics issue as paramedics saw a 45% increase between 2018 and 2019 in suspected opioid overdoses. In response to these overdoses, police are arresting people who are intentionally distributing controlled substances. This case in particular involves five people that are being tried for first-degree murder because the drugs that they distribute have caused overdose deaths.

The problem at hand is that there are members of the community that fall into drug addictions and these situations escalate to the point that death is becoming a frequent possibility. Additionally, a problem that is pointed out by the police is that assistance in regards to these detrimental matters is happening too late, as many users are afraid to ask for help.

Often the people who have this problem are members of the community that have fallen into an unfortunate habit that is wreaking havoc on their lives altogether.

2.     Swastika in Campus Bathroom Prompts New UNF Task Force

https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20200127/swastika-in-campus-bathroom-prompts-new-unf-task-force

People at UNF are vandalizing public spaces with obscene and dangerous symbols that are resulting in negative attitudes amongst students and faculty at the university. In response, the university has created a task force whose mission is broad – “ensure a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment.”

The problem at hand is that people are defacing school property, a crime in its own right. In addition to this, this vandalism is extremely offensive and propagates negative sentiment towards large student populations.

The problem itself is had by the university, who must do something in response to these criminal acts. But, students, faculty, and anyone else that exists in the university are also facing the problem of having hateful messages put on their campus.

3.     It Was Time to Let Go of the Jacksonville Landing

https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20200121/mark-woods-it-was-time-to-let-go-of-jacksonville-landing

Ever since the last local election brought in a new mayor of Jacksonville, it has been a goal of his to revitalize the downtown area. Part of the plan he constructed involved tearing down a landmark in Jacksonville, easily recognizable for any resident in the metropolitan area – the Jacksonville Landing. Although the Landing brings nostalgia for much of the Jacksonville community, it had been failing for over a decade. The stores and restaurants within the marketplace were dated, and the building took up a massive amount of prime real estate in the middle of downtown, right on the St. Johns River.

The problem involved in this story is that downtown Jacksonville has not been a place for the community to engage with for many years. The issue that the Landing itself posed was that it was stuck in the past while its location had the potential to bring livelihood back to Jacksonville’s city center.

The metropolitan community experiences this problem first hand, as many people work downtown but the area has been exclusively used for that purpose alone. The people of Jacksonville cannot experience leisure and recreation downtown, and the area cannot reap in the benefits of these consumer activities either.

4.     Lucky’s Market to Turn Over Stores to Aldi, Publix

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/luckys-market-to-turn-over-six-stores-to-discount-food-store-aldi

The grocery store chain Lucky’s Market has filed for bankruptcy as of Jan. 27^th and has announced that they will be closing all of their stores in Florida, including those in northeast Florida. As a result, other grocery chains like Aldi and Publix are looking to purchase these locations so that they can tap into the consumer markets that Lucky’s previously provided.

The opportunity for growth of remaining grocery chains arises from the problem that Lucky’s has succumbed to. There isn’t a viable market available that Lucky’s Market requires, and thus the members of this community must be served in a different manner.

Lucky’s Market experiences this problem explicitly, in which it has led them to file for bankruptcy. The shoppers within the communities that these stores served now also face the problem of accessibility for their grocery needs.

5.     Ditech Financial to Close 305-employee Jacksonville Office

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/ditech-financial-to-close-305-employee-jacksonville-office

Ditech Financial issued a statement that it will lay off 305 employees that work in their Jacksonville office.  The parent company of Ditech is closing its downtown office after their parent company filed for bankruptcy. The company expects that the layoffs will last through 2021, but workers in all positions will be laid off.

The problem presented in this story is that numerous Jacksonville community members will face joblessness following the closing of the Ditech Jacksonville branch.

The people facing this problem directly are the employees of Ditech, but their problem will have effects on other people. The families of these employees will also be directly affected, but local businesses will also have fewer customers if this joblessness lasts.