Are There Plans To Transform Tampa Into a Smart City?

With Hurricane Milton projected to hit the Tampa Bay area, it’s worth digging into agendas planned for Florida’s third-largest city.

Lo and behold, there are detailed initiatives to transform Tampa into a ‘Smart City.’

What is a Smart City?

Here’s what Wikipedia states:

A smart city is an urban area that uses digital technology to collect data and to operate/provide services. Data can be collected from citizens, devices, buildings, cameras. Applications include traffic and transportation systems, power plants, utilities, urban forestry, water supply networks, waste disposal, criminal investigations, information systems, schools, libraries, hospitals, and other community services. Smart cities are characterized by the ways in which their local governments monitor, analyze, plan, and govern the city. In a smart city, the sharing of data extends to businesses, citizens and other third parties who can derive benefit from using that data. The three largest sources of spending associated with smart cities as of 2022 were visual surveillance, public transit, and outdoor lighting.

“What is a smart city? We’ve heard the term in contexts as diverse as urban planning and governance, transport, energy, the environment, health, and education. We’ve also noticed that the notion of smart cities relies on a range of technologies—including the internet of things (IoT), mobile solutions, big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain,” the World Economic Forum writes.

“Because of this connection with technology, we’ve had concerns about how smart cities will address issues such as data privacy and social exclusion. We see a risk that urban areas with poor web connectivity could be left out of the smart-cities trend. We’d like to continue an open dialogue on this trend,” the globalist organization adds.

That’s a lot of fancy language for enslavement in the digital surveillance state.

Shyam Batra, candidate for Mayor of London, gives a more accurate description of Smart Cities.

WATCH:

Shyam Batra, candidate for Mayor of London, gives his take on C40 cities: 15-Minute cities is something that the WEF has created called C40…If you want food you will get a calorie controlled system sent to you by text saying ‘this is what you can eat today…If you violate any… pic.twitter.com/yW1xicJBFo

— Camus (@newstart_2024) March 26, 2024

Australian Senator Alex Antic has another breakdown:

Senator Antic is right to raise the alarm over the WEF SMART cities initiative.

The infrastructure is being set up under the guise of safety and convenience but the end goal is control, loss of privacy and the ability to implement a social credit system.

Awareness is key. pic.twitter.com/RLbblNEORi

— Kat A (@SaiKate108) December 7, 2022

Unsurprisingly, Tampa has plans to become a Smart City.

They need to destroy cities and towns to Build Back Better as a smart city.

Hello Tampa pic.twitter.com/ImYkLlK8N4

— JeLove (@LovesTheLight) October 8, 2024

Tampa, Florida is set to become one of the next “15-minute cities” under the ambitious M.O.V.E.S. plan—Mobility, Opportunity, Vision, Equity, and Safety.

This billion-dollar project is a collaboration between Bill Gates and Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik pic.twitter.com/cT4tPtNZeU

— Normanby -17 (@normanby_17) October 8, 2024

“Smart Cities of Tampa Bay seeks to move the region forward by deploying cutting edge technologies in multiple disciplines including transportation, energy infrastructure, health, and more,” Tampa Bay Smart Cities Alliance writes.

From Tampa Bay Smart Cities Alliance:

These are exciting times with new opportunities and challenges for integrating new technology in addressing the Tampa Bay area’s transportation needs. We also recognize that a true smart metropolitan area should embrace all aspects of life—we should not limit ourselves to a technology discussion but seek an inclusive and collaborative means for having a value conversation (health, education, transportation, and energy).

Tampa Bay Smart Cities Alliance was initiated by the City of Tampa, Florida Department of Transportation District 7, and the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida. This core group is seeking a broader vision for a regional group that would focus on near-term operational goals in the Tampa Bay area that will to continue to move the region forward in deploying cutting edge technologies that cut across multiple disciplines, including transportation, energy infrastructure, health, and more.

A central value is the bias towards action.

Tampa also initiated the M.O.V.E.S. Plan.

INTERESTING: Tampa, Florida had decided to become a 15-minute city through the MOVES Plan.

Link: https://t.co/PCdazJFV6F pic.twitter.com/ueUzs50kdQ

— Merissa Hansen (@merissahansen17) October 7, 2024

Per Tampa.gov:

Tampa M.O.V.E.S. (Mobility, Opportunity, Vision, Equity, and Safety) is the City of Tampa’s new transportation plan to address these recommendations. The plan is based on extensive public input to define the City’s mobility goals. Tampa M.O.V.E.S outlines transportation objectives and initiatives for the next 30 years, with an emphasis on memorializing the City’s strategic vision. The plan provides a number of policy and program recommendations to prioritize capital transportation improvements to result in a healthier, safer, and more connected city.

* Image from Tampa.gov *

The U.S. Department of Transportation has more extensive details on the future plans for Tampa, publishing a 34-page document called ‘Beyond Traffic: The Smart Tampa Vision.’

Read the 34-page document at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Also, Tampa Electric bluntly states: “We’re leveraging technology to turn Tampa into a smart city.”

From Tampa Electric:

What is a smart city? It’s one that uses digital technology to connect, provide services and ultimately enhance the lives of all citizens. Here are examples of how we’re partnering with the community to enhance public safety today and plans we have for the near future.

Security camera pilot

We’re partnering with the Tampa Police Department (TPD) and the West Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency in support of their ongoing efforts to help make Tampa’s neighborhoods more attractive, safe, convenient, environmentally healthy and economically strong. As part of this security camera pilot program, we installed three cameras at the base of our new LED streetlights that TPD can access remotely and monitor activity in high-crime areas. The cameras are powered by the streetlight and allow TPD to view 360 degrees and zoom-in on objects. Potential future camera locations will be identified by TPD and the community for feasibility assessment and installation.

Gunshot detection

Violent crimes involving guns is at the highest in recent years. In an effort to help the Tampa Police Department (TPD) identify and locate gun shots, we’re working with a third-party technology company called Shot Spotter to install ultra-sensitive “acoustic sensors” to our LED streetlights. The partnership with TPD is showing results. Within the first year after installing sensors in June 2019, the TPD responded to more than 700-gun shots that were detected by the sensors. As of Oct. 2020, there were 18 arrests directly related to TPD officers responding to gun shots detected by the sensors. Today, there are more than 70 sensors installed in high-crime areas with plans to install additional sensors in the near future. This is just another example of how we’re leveraging technology to turn Tampa into a smart city.

Other technologies we’re exploring

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We’re exploring other technology that can be integrated into our smart LED lights and wireless meter network. For example, we’re exploring streetlight-mounted sensors that can make drivers aware of vacant parking spaces, street closures and congestion. Other sensors can make drivers aware of street flooding and recommend alternative routes. Visit our smart LED upgrade video to learn more.

Additionally, Bill Gates is involved with the plans to develop downtown Tampa into a “green walking city.”

UPDATE: Hurricane Milton

Well well well…

Tampa, Florida is currently working on a downtown redevelopment project that aims to create a “green walking city.”…

Sound familiar?

The project is a joint venture between Bill Gates and Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik.
Source… pic.twitter.com/dglnccS4CP

— DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) October 8, 2024

Per USF Health:

Tampa is a vibrant, progressive and multi-cultural city located on the west coast of Florida. Tampa is ranked among the top U.S. cities for healthiest lifestyle, economic growth, innovation, cost of living, education and craft breweries. We are also home to 3 major professional sports teams. Super Bowl LV is scheduled to be held here in February 2021 and we plan to have our quarterback Tom Brady leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to victory. Downtown Tampa (Tampa Water Street) is presently being renovated with a 3 billion dollar joint venture project with Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Their 50 acre development plan is to turn our downtown into a green walking city with a vibrant live-work-and-play environment with the USF Morsani Medical School building strategically placed along the development. Nearby Gulf beaches are just a short drive away, with Clearwater Beach consistently ranked #1 in the nation. Year-long festivities and sporting events abound along with the renowned Gasparilla invasion. The Florida Aquarium, Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Riverwalk, Armature Works, multiple museums and scenic Bayshore Boulevard are among the many areas of entertainment and culture available in Tampa. Tampa International Airport (TIA) is consistently ranked as one of the top airports in the country and only a 15 minute drive from Tampa General Hospital. Tampa has everything a young physicians and families could want, with the exception of snow skiing!

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.