Ayaz Ali - Assignment 5A

Assignment 5A - Identifying Local Opportunities

1. Pedestrian Safety: Create more steady barriers along roads and create more pathways for pedestrians to walk on. Also, enforce stricter punishments for reckless driving.

• Title: "Walking? You're risking your life in Florida, the deadliest state for pedestrians"
• Link: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article224923045.html
• Description: It was crazy to read about this and see how dangerous Florida really was for pedestrians. Could you believe walking could be dangerous? Well Florida has a shocking 9 out of the top 20 cities that are deadly for pedestrians. The article talks about how Florida was "built" to be deadly for pedestrians because of the structure of its roads and its known ways of high speed and reckless driving. Florida has had a staggering 5,433 pedestrian deaths in the last 10 years, and it cannot be overlooked anymore. A few could say it's bad luck, or wrong place at the wrong time, but truth is many of these unfortunate deaths could have been avoided. It will be interesting to see what the state will do about this terrible issue.
• Problem: The story talks about how deadly Florida has became for pedestrians. Many innocent people just walking on the sidewalks, roads, or other areas have unfortunately passed away.
• This issue is for all residents in Florida as it is becoming scary how deadly the streets have became. It is crazy to think you can just be walking on the sidewalk and it could cost you your life.

2. Gun Control: Guns have to get out of the hands of these criminals. Every day we are losing innocent lives to senseless acts of violence. Someone has to do something!

• Title:"5 dead after gunman opens fire inside Florida bank"
• Link: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/os-ne-sebring-bank-armed-person-investigation-20190123-story.html
• Description:  Yet another act of violence for no reason. A gunman opened fire inside a Florida bank and took the lives of 5 innocent people. The gunman himself called the police and told them he had opened fire, and when the police arrived and tried negotiating with the gunman, it went downhill. The shooting took place in Sebring and the gunman eventually surrendered. The gunman was 21-year old Zephen Xaver, and he was taken into custody, unfortunately after taking the lives of 5 people.
• Problem: Gun violence. Every day it seems we have to talk about this issue, and guns have became so dangerous in today's society. This issue has been a hot topic for the past few years, and it seems the problem remains and we will continue to lose lives unless someone does something quick!
• This issue relates to all people. You never know where an active shooter could be and could cause havoc. The general public does not deserve this kind of possible danger being around them, and how many more lives will we have to lose before someone makes a change.

3. Help for federal employees: Federal employees are having a tough time lately as the entire government shutdown is hurting them badly. More places should offer reduced or free services for federal workers to help them during this difficult time.

• Title: "Central Florida attractions offer free admission to government employees"
• Link: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/os-et-s4-orlando-attractions-free-admission-government-employees-20190123-story.html
• Description: The government shutdown has been very difficult for many federal employees as many have gotten their paychecks shut off. Many of these important workers now have no income coming in and are really struggling. Luckily for Orlando federal workers, the city is offering free admission to many attractions, such as Central Florida Zoo, Charles Morse Museum of American Art, Madame Tussauds and Sea Life, and many more. This gesture by the city will go a long way and it really is amazing what they are doing to help these federal workers who cannot do anything about the government shutdown.
• Problem: The government shutdown has negatively affecting many people, and these are not rich and well off people. Many of the federal workers are in the middle class, and with income being stopped, they are in a very spot.
• This issue is regarding to federal workers, in particular workers living in the Orlando area. Hopefully this gesture by the city will motivate other cities around the world to help these federal workers. 

4. Public safety for women: Women in the Pembroke Pines area have been witnessing a man performing sexual acts in public and have been cautious lately. These women are feeling threatened by this odd man and have the right to feel safe in their own community.

• Title: "Masked man who creeps up on women and exposes himself strikes again, police say"
• Link: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article225057215.html
• Description: A masked man has been performing odd sexual activities towards women in a Pembroke Pines neighborhood and has women feeling scared and uneasy. The masked man has stroke 4 times this month and has yet to be caught. Women claim the man does not touch them but approaches them, but they of course do not know his intentions. The city of Pembroke Pines has warned women to be cautious of their surroundings and advised to not go outside alone at night. The issues seem to be piling up for women and now it seems they have another odd situation to deal with.
• Problem: Women are being harassed by this unknown masked man and are feeling very uneasy and uncomfortable in their own neighborhoods. 
• This issue regard women in Pembroke Pines, but the issue could easily have been anywhere. Florida seems to continuously come up with odd stories in the news, and we can add yet another to it.  

5. Safety for children in school: A headmaster at a West Palm Beach school was arrested for charges related to child sex.

• Title: "Headmaster of West Palm Beach school arrested on child sex charges"
• Link: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-ne-school-head-arrested-on-sex-charges-20190124-story.html
• Description: Child sex charges are disgraceful, and it is sad to see a headmaster, basically a principal, being charged with such a disgusting act. The suspect, 54-year old Randy Konsker, was detained early on Thursday with 10 counts of sexual misconduct with minors. The man is also facing a sexual battery with minors charge as well. This is another child sex abuse case we are hearing of and it is crazy to see it happening so often in schools. These children do not deserve to be in environments with such people around, and it can really scar some people.
• Problem: Sexual misconduct is already a big issue, and with it being with minors in this case, it makes it even worse. Children should go to feeling safe and comfortable and not having to be worried about any misconduct from adults, especially anything sexual. Someone has to take charge and change the way things have been for children in situations like these. 
• This issue regards children in all schools, and in this case the private high school in West Palm Beach. This could be going on anywhere in the world right now and we need to do a better job of making sure these kinds of people are detained and that students are comfortable in their learning environments.