Identifying Local Opportunities


Florida Lawmakers Strip Phrase "White Supremacy" From Bill Condemning White Supremacy

This article was published January 14, 2020 in the Broward Palm Beach New Times. This article describes the background and passing of HR51/SR 2114 of the Florida State Senate to condemn “All Hate.” This resolution idea began as an effort to condemn White Supremacy after a white nationalist in El Paso killed 22 people last year. After several iterations the resolution was “watered down” and all specific name groups were removed and replaced with “Any philosophy that espouses the superiority of one group of people over another.” Some Democratic Senators questioned why the rhetoric was changed in the first place.
The problem is what was intended to be a government opposition to a specific hate group was then broadened so that hate clauses cannot be used for blanket hate crime prosecutions.
Who has the problem?
The police will have an issue with this current resolution as it does not specifically state White Supremacy as condemned and a basis for arrest/prosecution
Florida Human Rights groups have the same issue with this current resolution
Floridians who have hate been attacked by this group

Retroactive Gain-Time Bill Would Reform Florida's Harsh Prison Sentencing Laws

This article was published October 15, 2019 in the Broward Palm Beach New Times. The article writes about 2 new resolutions that would cut the minimum time for prison sentences from 85% original sentence to 65%. If passed, this resolution can save the state $860 million in correctional costs.
The problem if this resolution doesn’t pass many stand to lose resources and money.
Who has the problem?
Those who are incarcerated for low level drug charges and non-violent crimes.
The prison system, who will continue to be strained in money and man power
The families of the incarcerated who use their time and money to support and visit their loved ones in prison.

Mural Honoring Parkland Shooting Victims Is Defaced in Miami's Wynwood Neighborhood



This article was published May 24, 2019 in the Broward Palm Beach New Times. The article is about a mural painted as a tribute and reminder to the MSD School shooting. The mural was vandalized with tags and devil horns painted on Manuel Oliver an outspoken father of a Parkland Shooting student. It is still unknown who defaced the mural.
The problem is clouding the message needing gun control legislation and to vote in midterm elections as well as remember the victims of the shooting.
Who has the problem?
The survivors of the MSD Shooting, The families of the MSD shooting, the mural commission company, the Wynwood mural district, and the Wynwood community.

SeaQuest Fort Lauderdale Still in Limbo as PETA Pursues Lawsuit

https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/seaquest-fort-lauderdale-still-in-limbo-as-peta-pursues-lawsuit-10475506

This article was published January 15, 2020 in the Broward Palm Beach New Times. This article is describing the ongoing case against the City of Fort Lauderdale to allow a SeaQuest to open in the Galleria Mall in Fort Lauderdale. SeaQuest wants to open an exhibit in the mall that would showcase many animals but has a reputation of neglect. PETA has stepped in with other Animal rights groups to prevent the opening of SeaQuest.

The problem is that opening this exhibit could endanger many animals with such a neglectful company

Who has the problem?

PETA and other animal rights groups, the owners of the Galleria Mall, the City of Fort Lauderdale.                 

 

Almost Half of Florida Water Bodies Have Algal Blooms, and Climate Change Is Worsening the Problem

https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/report-floridas-algal-bloom-problems-will-worsen-due-to-climate-change-10318340

This article was published August 8, 2019 in the Broward Palm Beach New Times. This article describes the current algal bloom issue in Florida and how it is growing consistently due to heavy rain storms, climate change, and toxic runoff from Fertilizers in the area. This is causing the water in Florida Lakes to become harmful and toxic to humans in the case of Lake Okeechobee.

The problem is toxic algal blooms in freshwater lakes in Florida being harmful for the environments

Who has the problem?

The communities surrounding effected lakes, the plant and animal environment (food chain/cycle), the State of Florida, Fish and Wildlife Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency




Comments

  1. Hi Orlantha! I'm not from South Florida, so I didn't even think about the fact that I could look for local opportunities there. It's interesting how varied the issues are in South Florida versus Central Florida and North Florida. For some reason I was surprised by the fact that a few of the opportunities you found for Broward/Palm Beach area were related to lawmakers and the Florida Senate. I guess I expected more of those opportunities to be in North Florida because the state capital is there. Also, in terms of the article about the MSD mural having been defaced, what do you think is the opportunity there? Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is an opportunity for those in the community to show support for the mural and condemn those who did.

      Delete

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