Identifying Local Opportunities

1. 1.4M to calm Portofino traffic woes
http://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/pensacola/beaches/2016/01/21/14m-calm-traffic-portofino/79001504/

This story was about Escambia county planning on spending money to slow down traffic in front of a popular beach resort. There isn't much around the resort, so people tend to speed past the resort. However, the tourists that stay at the resort are subject to the dangers of fast drivers. The problem described is that drivers are speeding past the resort and putting guests at risk. The person who has the problem are the guests of Portofino Resort, and the management of Portofino themselves.

2. Downtown Improvement Board (DIB) looking for a new home
http://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/pensacola/downtown/2016/01/23/dib-looking-new-home/79000154/

This story is about a board that plans activities in downtown Pensacola looking for a new office space. However, city officials don't want to have the board work in City Hall. The problem here is that DIB needs a new office space and wants to be located in City Hall. The DIB is the organization that has the problem.

3. Inmate housing to cost $1.7M in 2016
http://www.pnj.com/story/news/crime/2016/01/21/sr-inmate-housing-cost-escambia-17m/79107098/

This story was about how housing costs in prisons are going to rise. Right now, Santa Rosa County prisons are housing Escambia County inmates. The costs are attributed to more inmates, not additional costs. The problem here is that there are more Escambia County inmates in Santa Rosa County jails. This is the tax payers of both counties' problems. Escambia country residents because it is pertaining to prisoners of their county. Santa Rosa county residents because the prisoners are residing in their prisons.

4. Turnpike will pursue Sikes toll violators
http://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/pensacola/beaches/2016/01/21/should-turnpike-manage-bob-sikes-toll/79004662/

This story is about a local toll bridge making a deal with the Florida Turnpike Enterprise to pursue toll violators. It is part of a plan to start integrating the SunPass system on this bridge. The problem here is that many people are violating the toll bridge policies and need a larger organization to help pursue violators. The management of the Bob Sikes bridge is the organization that has this problem.

5. 90 minute bus rides for local students?
http://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/santa-rosa/2016/01/21/90-minute-bus-ride-local-students/79119966/

This story is about the overcrowding of schools causing transportation issues. Some children are having to ride on the bus for an hour and a half to get home. The problem here is that distance between two parts of the district and overcrowding of schools are causing extremely long commutes. The people affected by this problem are primarily the students that have to ride these 90 minute rides.