5A: Identifying Local Opportunities

1) Rain Pummels Lox Road; Manager Hopes August Vote Could Help Fund Road Work

• https://gotowncrier.com/2018/06/town-crier-digital-issue-for-june-1-2018/
• Multiple roads throughout Loxahatchee are flooded. Drains are not fully clearing the roads. Some roads have been temporarily recovered, but easily become flooded again with more rain. There has been a lack a new road material added to theses roads, therefore they are holding water. Road contractors have assessed the situation and assume about $600,000 is needed to fix the road.
• Because of the recent rain the has taken over the past few weeks busy roads have been closed in Loxahatchee due to flooding. There are drainage issues and this is leading to traffic and safety problems. The money needed for construction is not available at the time.
• Loxahatchee residents have the problem because these are roads they need to use on a regular basis.

2) Star Liquors Temporarily Closing Town Square Store May 31

• https://issuu.com/floridamagazinepublishers/docs/town-crier_newspaper_may_25__2018
• The Town Square shopping center in the middle of Wellington is planning to go under construction for renovations. The Star Liquors store was one of the first to close in order to begin renovation.
• Regular clients that visit the store and locals will have to find another place to shop for a while. This was the only liquor store in the area, therefore people must relocate and business will be relocated somewhere else for the time being.
• The store owner will be losing business for the time his store is closed. He doesn't own any other store and that is his sole form of income.

3) FDOT Souther Blvd. Widening Work About To Get Underway

• https://gotowncrier.com/2018/05/town-crier-digital-issue-for-may-18-2018/
• Souther Blvd is a main highway the goes east/west thru Palm Beach County. It is a busy road with entrances to the turnpike, I-95, and more. Widening work is necessary to alleviate the traffic flow issues that occur during rush hour. 
• The widening work will involve intense construction on the road. This will lead to traffic temporarily being worsened due to lane closures and chaining traffic patterns.
• Locals commuting on this road daily will have a problem because the traffic will be intensified from what they are used to. This is a commuting road especially for workers in the area and time to get from one destination to another will be greatly affected.

4) City Cops Will Patrol Dozens of PBC Elementary Schools Under New Deal

• https://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/local-education/city-cops-will-patrol-dozens-pbc-elementary-schools-under-new-deal/PEKG9N3GejbeqKBLkrPGeI/
• With the growing of school shootings the county has the students safety in mind. They have a plan to place at least one armed officer on school campuses when students are present.
• Officers must be paid overtime and the agreement hasn't been officially approved yet. Young elementary students will get used to seeing an armed officer on their campus every day, which could be bad to get used to seeing. It makes the environment feels safe, but may send a negative message to children.
• Parents and students do not have the choice. The deal is not involving the parents opinion and students must see these armed cops every day.

5) UN health agency backs away from call to tax sugary drinks

• https://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/health-agency-backs-away-from-call-tax-sugary-drinks/z8jbEMuz7FZ2CQoP97dI3M/
• Two years ago the UN health agency proposed and idea to place higher taxes on sugary drinks to curve consumption with the rising obesity problems. Now, with expert opinions, they believe taxing will not help the issue.
• There is still an issue with the high consumption of sugar, but the problem has not found a solution.
• People with obesity issues will continue to have a problem. While sugary drinks are just one of the many things that lead to health issues, it is a common one and with them being readily available and inexpensive obesity can only move in a negative direction.