Are Smart Cities the Answer to Urban Woes?

 

Is it a smart move for governments around the world to continue to invest in smart cities?

By 2030, you will be 13 years older.  Think about it because it will be here before you know it.  And according to U.N. studies, “about 5 billion people will make a move from rural to urban areas. This will, in all probability, lead to a resource crunch and consequently affect the quality of life. Governments are investing in smart cities to better monitor the day-to-day activities and enhance the quality, performance, and interactivity of urban services.

So, what is a smart city?

A smart city heavily depends on technology to efficiently and securely manage a city’s assets, such as hospitals, power plants, water dams, universities, schools, and waste management, to name a few. Real-time monitoring systems, using sensors, are used to collect data from citizens, as well as public and private facilities, which give a detailed view of what is happening in the city. This allows city officials to interact with the community directly or indirectly. Use of IoT in these cities helps reduce costs and resource consumption. Besides, it helps governments give a real-time response to citizen concerns. A smart city analyzes the data collected from various sources for efficient use of civic amenities. This supports healthy economic and social development. It focuses on an e-governance model that encourages people to participate, leading to collective development of the city. Countries like Singapore are already adopting such features and budging towards becoming one of the first smart cities in the world.”

See the full article by Naveen Joshi:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-governments-around-world-investing-smart-cities-naveen-joshi

Are you sold on smart cities?

Do you believe for those who can, an escape to the suburbs is the way to go?  Why?

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ATL Tenants Shocked By Landlord’s Unpaid $700K Water Bill

Despite Sierra residents paying their rent, which includes water, their water was turned off earlier today.  After WAOK Radio Host And former Atlanta City Councilman Derrick Boazman and Atlanta Mayoral Candidate State Senator Vincent Fort held a press conference at the apartment complex late this morning.  It appears that the media exposure has helped the residence get a two week reprieve.

Also, I spoke to At-Large Councilman Andre Dickens, this evening.  He says, “As soon as I found out what was going on, about 2pm, I began making calls to various departments to see what could be done for the Sierra Ridge Residents.”

According to WSB TV2, the apartment owners are saying $480,000 of the $700,000 the City says they owe is from the previous owners.  They only want to pay what they owe.  Is it possible for a real estate sale to close with an unpaid water bill?  View the full story at:  https://www.google.com/amp/s/wsbtv.relaymedia.com/amp/news/local/atlanta/more-than-100-left-without-water-right-before-children-head-back-to-school/577207018

http://www.cbs46.com/story/36015866/apartment-complex-water-turned-back-on

And, many residents across Atlanta are appalled at the fact that several Atlanta businesses in Buckhead and Midtown owe millions of dollars in unpaid water bills and the City has not turned off their water.  See the full 11 Alive TV story from 2016 at:

http://www.11alive.com/mb/news/local/city-give-buckhead-condo-pass-on-1-million-water-bill/308316443#

Do you believe the City of Atlanta/Watershed Management should have different policies about who pays their delinquent water bill based on your zip code?

When is the water at the luxury Phoenix Condo building going to have their water turned off for non payment for their ten plus year, delinquent $1 million water bill?

What do you think should be done to help the 40 Sierra Ridge residents and their children?

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