8A Solving the Problem
My opportunity is the panhandler problem in Daytona Beach, Florida. My solution is to develop an app that allows business owners to report and keep track of when a panhandler is over stepping boundaries. This app could also notify police as a non-urgent need. A lot of the business owners I talked to said that they knew the police were busy, but they still needed help. If business owners can contact police stating what was happening and describe the panhandler’s actions, they will be able to start to take action towards punishing panhandlers while not feeling guilty about taking up the police’s time. If the police aren’t dealing with another situation they can come straight to the business, but if they are busy, they can see it as something they can do later. The app can also include a security camera that can regulate how long a person has stood outside for, how far away they were, how frequently they are there, and if they come in contact with other people. This will allow business owners to track panhandlers while not keeping a police officer stationed in front of every business. The app can also include things that connect local businesses together so they can state their problems to the community and other business owners can comment and say whether or not they are having the same problems with the same panhandlers. This way the business community in Daytona can work as a team to find the bad panhandlers without disrupting those who are peacefully living by the laws.
Olivia,
ReplyDeleteI think this could be an effective solution to the problem you have identified. However, something to consider is the functionality and the costs of creating an app. I recently learned that many apps require a lot of upkeep, which is something I had not known before. Overall, I think this is a great opportunity and potential solution! Thanks for your thoughtful response.
Olivia,
ReplyDeleteWhile I cannot say that I am familiar with panhandlers, I too found that creating an app would be the best solution to my problem. Your app has multiple features that express the qualities of succeeding. Incorporating the police into the app without having to call 911 is an excellent idea and prevents policemen from having to respond to a panhandler the moment they receive the call. I also find the connection between businesses interesting. You would have to make sure businesses are not lying to each other about panhandlers' status in oder to get the competitive advantage. Overall, I find your solution promising.