Assignment 5A - Identifying Local Opportunities

Assignment 5A – Identifying Local Opportunities

1.     “School leaders face hurricane, security issues” The Gainesville Sun

a.     Link: The Gainesville Sun #1

b.     Description: This article, written on January 16^th 2019, addresses the recent discussions that Florida lawmakers and education leaders must have regarding improvements to school safety throughout the state. The topics covered included rebuilding or replacing schools that were damaged by Hurricane Michael in October, as well as the shooting that occurred last February at Majority Stoneman Douglas High School. As school shootings have increased drastically increased throughout the nation, school safety will be the most important topic of conversation in the legislative session coming up.

c.     The Problems: The annual legislative session starts on March 5^th and funding for education will be a major point of discussion. Lawmakers will need to discuss the issue of allocating money to various Florida schools that were financially impacted by previous storms. However, the biggest debate will involve whether or not to have armed school personnel at high schools, including arming classroom teachers.

d.     The People: The people who will be affected most by this are Florida students and teachers. It will affect their day-to-day life. Florida lawmakers, Florida education leaders, and the community are also involved.

2.     “Megan Hendricks: It's time to get serious about Florida's teacher shortage” The Gainesville Sun

a.     Link: The Gainesville Sun #2

b.    Description: In this article, written on January 18^th 2019, Hendricks discusses the current changes going on throughout the teaching population in Florida. She shares surprising statistics of the increase in teacher openings throughout Florida and the decrease in interest from college students of pursuing education. The article also discusses the unrealistic expectations that teachers now have, without having the necessary resources. Decisions that are made by non-educators in Florida and throughout the nation continue to make their job harder, and it is causing many to leave their profession.

c.     The Problem: There is a shortage of teachers in Florida and throughout the nation. This is due to increased difficulty of being a teacher and decreased interest from students of becoming one.  

d.    The People: The teacher shortage in Florida and the nation will be most impactful to future generations if nothing changes. It will also affect the community and families with children.

3.     “Panel: 'Stand Your Ground' law should be repealed” The Gainesville Sun

a.     Link: The Gainesville Sun #3

b.    Description: This article, written on January 23^rd 2019, discusses the Florida law called “Stand your Ground.” This law gives a person the right to use deadly force, with no duty to retreat, if they feel that this force is necessary to prevent death or great harm. The law started in 2005 and legislature has been trying to repeal it ever since, due to its ambiguity and its promotion of vigilantism. It states that one of the main issues with this law is that it removes the process of claiming self-defense in a trial and instead allows a person complete immunity when they claim “stand your ground” and they avoid both arrest and a trial. The article provides statistics on the increase of Florida gun murder rates since this law passed and the racial injustices that go along with it as well.

c.     The Problem: This controversial Florida law is currently serving the Florida community in an unjust way. The bill that has been introduced to repeal this law has not been passed due to the legislature as a whole, who lacks the will to do so.

d.    The People: Floridians are impacted by this law. Both those who claim to have used this law and those who have it used against them. Those with the problem with this law are those who have it used against them, unrightfully. And then have no justice served. However, it is up to Florida lawmakers to fix the problem.

4.     “Hate flyers found in county residents' driveways” The Gainesville Sun

a.     Link: The Gainesville Sun #4

b.    Description: This article, written on January 21^st 2019, discusses what numerous Gainesville residents woke up to on Monday morning. There were around 15 hateful flyers that were left around the neighborhood on Martin Luther King Day. These hate messages were claimed to be left by members of the KKK. After the notes were investigated, it was determined that nothing in the contents of the notes constituted a crime. These notes caused alarm in the neighborhood and residents said they had never experienced anything like it before.

c.     The Problem: Gainesville residents awoke to hateful messages from a hate group on MLK Day. These disturbing messages disrupted these residents life and left them alarmed.

d.    The People: The Gainesville residents who received these messages have the problem in this article. It is up to local authorities to help fix the problem.

5.     “DeSantis presses to allow smoking medical marijuana” The Gainesville Sun

a.     Link: The Gainesville Sun #5

b.    Description: In this article, written on January 17^th 2019, the author discusses the Governor Ron DeSantis’ attempts to repeal the ban on smoking medical marijuana in Florida, as well as to make it easier for businesses to participate in the medical marijuana market. Back in 2016, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved the amendment to the state constitution that would legalize medical marijuana. DeSantis is claiming that the Legislature is failing to support the vote. The current bill that was passed banned the sale of medical marijuana in a smokable form. Multiple other points are discussed regarding DeSantis’ argument against current legislature around medical marijuana.

c.     The Problem: 71% of Florida voters voted on legalizing medical marijuana. The current GOP-controlled Legislature has failed to implement an amendment that went with the people’s will.

d.    The People: Ron DeSantis has pointed out the problem in this article. The people who are mainly dealing with the consequences of the problem are those with serious, debilitating conditions that are dependent on medical marijuana to help them. Those who voted for this amendment and do not believe the current version is in accordance with what they voted for also have a problem.

Assignment 4A: Forming an Opportunity Belief

Assignment 4A: Forming an Opportunity Belief

            I believe there is an unmet need in the bar and nightlife industry in Gainesville, specifically in midtown. UF students currently have the need for a new bar to go to in midtown, otherwise people will continue to be discouraged from going out because of the long lines.  Anyone who has gone out in midtown on a Friday or Saturday is aware of the long lines and waits at each of the bars, especially after 10PM. During the beginning of the semester, it is crowded almost every day of the week. For safety, each bar has a limit on how many people can be inside. Because of this, many lines will be one in, one out, which can sometimes take over an hour before you get inside the bar. JJ’s Tavern is the most recent bar to attempt to meet this need and it has done very well since it opened, but it has not helped with long lines. There is a large building in midtown that is currently not in use, it’s located right next to sushi chao and used to hold Cantini and Mochi. Both have been closed for around 2 years and the buildings have been sitting empty since then. I believe there is an opportunity to open a new bar or even multiple ones in this building. Opening a new bar or club, either 18+ or 21+, in this location would help decrease the overcrowding in midtown and would have the opportunity to get a large amount of business from students. I am 75% sure that this opportunity exists.

#1: College female under 21 years old.

·      How often do you go out in midtown?

o   Usually around once a week. It depends on the time of the semester and how crowded I think it’ll be.

·      Do the lines in midtown ever prevent you from going out?

o   Yes, especially because I am under 21. There are only a few places I can go and that makes it even less appealing to go out.

·      When did you realize how long lines took in midtown?

o   Freshman year. Once I turned 18 and was able to go to some of the bars I saw how crowded it would get over the weekend. And multiple times I experienced having to wait in lines for over a half an hour.

·      Did you think when JJ’s Tavern opened it helped with the lines and overcrowding?

o   Not for the places I go to, because JJ’s is 21 and up it didn’t affect me directly.

·      Do you think a new bar opening in midtown would make you more likely to go out?

o   It really depends on if it is 18 and up. If it is I would probably go out more often.

Reflection: For anyone under 21 years old, the only new bar opening in midtown that would affect them would be an 18+ bar. There is also probably an opportunity to open an 18+ in midtown.

#2: College senior female over 21 years old.

·      How often do you go out in midtown?

o   It depends on the week, but usually around 2-3 times a week.

·      Do the lines in midtown ever prevent you from going out?

o   They usually don’t prevent me from going out. If I go out on the weekend I just know that I need to get there early.

·      When did you realize that you needed to go out earlier in order to avoid the lines?

o   Pretty quickly after I turned 21. Waiting in lines ruins the night, so me and my friends try to go out as early as we can.

·      Did you think when JJ’s Tavern opened it helped with the lines and overcrowding?

o   I think so. It still seems like the lines still get super long, but having another popular bar in mid definitely gave people another place to go.

·      Do you think a new bar opening in midtown would help with lines and make you go out less early?

o   It depends on the bar. If it was one that people liked going to and was popular then I think it would help a little with lines. I would still go out early either way.

·      Would you care if the bar was 18+?

o   I probably wouldn’t if it was 18 and up instead of 21 and up.

Reflection: A new bar opening in midtown would have to continue to be popular after its initial opening to really impact the overcrowding. And opening an 18+ bar would probably not be popular with anyone who was 21 and older.

#3: Male midtown bouncer.

·      How often do you work at midtown per week?

o   Typically around 3-4 nights a week.

·      What nights do you usually work?

o   I always work Friday and Saturday nights. My weekday shifts change.

·      After you became a bouncer in midtown, when did you realize how bad the lines got?

o   Immediately. I started a few years ago at the beginning of Fall semester and the lines were crazy during syllabus week and fluctuated throughout the semester. The weekend is always bad.

·      Did you think when JJ’s Tavern opening it helped with lines and overcrowding?

o   Initially it took people away from the bar I work at. But it’s gone back to being about the same as before JJ’s opened.

·      Do you think a new bar opening in midtown would help with the lines?

o   Probably not. It would have to really popular with students and even then I think the popular bars will always have long lines. Maybe opening multiple new bars would have an impact.

Reflection: One new bar in midtown probably won’t completely solve the long lines and overcrowding in midtown. Bouncers see midtown the most and understand the lines at popular bars work.

Summary: I think my opportunity is definitely still there, but it has changed some after interviewing customers. I think for a new bar to open and be successful as a business and to help with overcrowding it’ll have to target only a 21+ audience. It seems like anyone who is over 21 goes out more and this would most likely be a more profitable decision. My original opportunity is also more accurate now after interviewing multiple different people about their opinions on the overcrowding at midtown. The bar would also have to set themselves up to be a top choice to go to and put a large emphasis on marketing towards students. I think entrepreneurs should adapt their opportunities up to a certain extent after receiving customer feedback. Without speaking to potential clients, you could completely miss the mark on what you’re trying to achieve. But everyone is going to have different opinions, so it is important to also go with your gut when getting mixed feedback.