5A - Identifying Local Opportunites

Opportunity 1

·        Title and Link: Miami Beach to Spend $75,000 to Eradicate Invasive Iguanas

·        Description of the story: The story written on 1/30/20 describes how the City of Miami Beach is trying to reduce the number of iguanas in the city since they are an invasive species.

·        Description of the problem: The iguanas are invasive and are causing damage to the city and are being a nuisance to the city’s inhabitants.  

·        Description of who has the problem: The City of Miami Beach, the city’s inhabitants, and the city’s business have the problem.

Opportunity 2

·        Title and Link: Angry Miamians Launch Effort to Oust Commissioner Joe Carollo

·        Description of the story: The story written on 1/30/20 is part opinion and part factual about local Miami inhabitants working to remove their Commissioner.

·        Description of the problem: The group of Miamians believe that Commissioner Joe Carolla has done nothing to improve their situation and that he has in turn made things worse for them by several controversies he has been a part of.

·        Description of who has the problem: Former Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair Juan Cuba and a team of local activists are launching a petition drive and political action committee to remove Carollo from his post as a city commissioner.

Opportunity 3

·        Title and Link: Miami-Dade Cop Acquitted of Battery Despite Video of Him Hitting Handcuffed Teen

·        Description of the story: The story written on 1/29/20 details how a local Miami cop was acquitted of battery despite their being video evidence.

·        Description of the problem: Per the story, the problem is the lack of trust in anyone holding cops accountable for their actions.

·        Description of who has the problem: The teen who was handcuffed and hit and the local people who do not trust cops and the judicial system.

Opportunity 4

·        Title and Link: The Miami Herald Cuts 70 Jobs and Closes Its Printing Plant

·        Description of the story: The story written on 1/29/20 details how the struggling Miami Herald newspaper company is struggling financially and had to reduce staff and shut down some production.

·        Description of the problem: The problem comes from there being far less newspaper subscribers paying for the actual printed version of the Miami Herald.

·        Description of who has the problem: The Miami Herald has the problem. Consumer preferences are changing, and technology is making it more difficult for local newspapers to stay relevant and financially viable.

Opportunity 5

·        Title and Link: Miami Feels Tremors From Earthquake Near Cuba and Jamaica

·        Description of the story: The story written on 1/28/20 details how Miami felts some effects from the 7.7 earthquake that struck near Cuba and Jamaica.

·        Description of the problem: The problem is that tremors were felt in Miami.

·        Description of who has the problem: Local businesses and residents have the problem of being impacted by the tremors.