Identifying Local Opportunities

Hello, hello! I'm back again with my next assignment. This task involved identifying local opportunities (hence the blog post title) based on my local newspaper. Local newspapers are an excellent way to get to know the vibes of an area, learn about what's going on, find out the juicy details...

I searched through the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the Bradenton Herald for five issues/opportunities. Surprisingly, I had trouble finding articles that actually talked about local problems. Instead, the majority of the articles talked about positive events that recently occurred. Others discussed random topics, not necessarily locally-related. I also noticed that the articles I used for this assignment all seemed to stem back to the structural set-up of the Bradenton/Sarasota area. The area is tourism-based with a wide span of residential areas, a large population mainly consisting of retired elders, and a large number of low-paying jobs, which no doubt causes problems for some locals. I've listed the five articles below.

Opportunity 1:

Poverty numbers paint 'bleak picture' in Manatee
Sarasota Herald-Tribune

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20160517/ARTICLE/160519682/2055/NEWS?Title=Poverty-numbers-paint-bleak-picture-in-Manatee-


Summary: 

Up to 43% of Manatee county's population is struggling to live off of what they make. The county is home to several low-wage jobs and not as many higher paying jobs. Residents struggling with poverty seldom have the opportunity to advance to a higher paying job due to the sheer fact that there aren't as many of those jobs available. People are struggling to even afford their living arrangements, consequently hurting the housing market. In addition, the vastness of Manatee county makes access to resources difficult for some.


Problem: 

The problem presented in this article is that low-wage jobs are not providing people with enough money to survive off of. Manatee county features many low-wage jobs and residents do not have many opportunities to earn a higher wage because of that. Also, Manatee county contains several pockets of neighborhoods spread out over a vast area, and many people do not even have a grocery store nearby where they live.


Who the problem affects: 

Manatee county residents that have low-wage jobs and facing poverty.



Opportunity 2:

Palmetto Officials Decline to Participate in Manatee County's Noise Ordinance
Bradenton Herald

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15CEC90148FDF0E0?p=AWNB


Summary: 

Manatee County's new noise ordinance calls for a steep $250 fine when violated, as well as a potential arrest. Palmetto officials refuse to adhere to the ordinance and will develop their own noise ordinance. This action may be affected by zoning restrictions.


Problem: 

Manatee County's new noise ordinance is rather harsh and strict, which can cause issues when applied to mixed-use environments (ie. residential areas above commercial spaces). In mixed-use environments, there is a conflict between lifestyles. The residential patrons seek a more quiet experience, while the commercial patrons want the noise and crowds.


Who the problem affects: 

Manatee county and Palmetto residents, especially those living above commercial areas.



Opportunity 3:

New Bradenton Planner says Affordable Housing a 'must' within the city
Bradenton Herald

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15CE203DF29E86D0?p=AWNB


Summary:

Catherine Hartley is Bradenton's new Planning and Community Director and is aware that affordable housing is hard to come across in Manatee County. Bradenton does not necessarily have the fiscal capacity to create more residential areas but has potential to fill vacancies in already-standing locations.


Problem:

Affordable housing in Bradenton is hard to find at the moment.


Who the problem affects:

Locals struggling to afford housing and people seeking to move to Bradenton.



Opportunity 4:

Sunshine State can't shake the No. 1 foreclosure spot
Sarasota Herald-Tribune

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20160516/NEWS/160519736/2107/BUSINESS?Title=Sunshine-State-can-t-shake-the-No-1-foreclosure-spot


Summary:

Florida still is ranked number one in foreclosures despite the fact that the number was down by 37% percent from the previous year. Although Florida's foreclosure inventory and serious delinquency rates are lower, they are still well above the national average.

Problem:

Foreclosures are still extremely prevalent in Florida which may indicate local economic instabilities.The large number of foreclosures  indicates that there is an issue with Florida's economy in that people are having trouble finding jobs and supporting themselves financially.

Who the problem affects:

Foreclosures affect those who cannot afford to pay off their debts.



Opportunity 5:

Creating the livable communities all of us, young and old, want
Sarasota Herald-Tribune

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15CD8E03A0DFAE10?p=AWNB


Summary:

AARP has released a ratings list in which locations are ranked on "livibility". Sarasota County was ranked 53 and could attribute its low ranking due to the lack of diversity and acceptance of diversity in its population. Sarasota is known for its older population and if the county focuses mainly on solely meeting their needs, its ranking could slide even lower.


Problem:

Sarasota County is home to a wide range of people from young kids to millennials to the elderly and retired. The county saw low ratings when it came to diversity because the groups are so segregated based on needs and accommodations. The elderly population receives more attention and has more needs met than other age groups.


Who the problem affects:

This issue really affects all of the population of Sarasota County. In order to raise the county's ranking, something's got to give. County officials will have to come up with a plan to balance out everyone's needs collectively. This might mean that the elderly may have to compromise to satisfy the younger population and vice versa.