“Tampa’s ‘Tropical Storm IDALIA’ and the Surprising Revelation of a ‘Smart’ Future”

Oh, Tampa, the city where the sunshine is as consistent as the annual tropical storms that sweep through, causing residents to ponder whether they should invest in boats instead of cars. Now, as we face yet another “tropical storm,” the rumblings have begun. Will Tampa follow in the fiery footsteps of Maui, California, Washington, Texas, New Jersey, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Mississippi, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah, and rise from the ashes of disaster to become a smart city?

Because apparently, natural disasters are the latest trendsetters in urban development. Who knew?

And while our storm doesn’t come with its own fire (yet), it’s fair to wonder if the next big thing in Tampa’s future is a city that’s smarter than the average bear, or in this case, the average Floridian.

So, we did some digging, and — brace yourself — found a shocking revelation. Tampa Electric Company (TECO) and Smart City plans for Tampa does have plans for Tampa to become a Smart City. Yes, you read that right. Tampa, the city where ‘smart’ typically refers to knowing which beach bar serves the best margaritas, might soon be joining the ranks of technologically advanced urban areas.

We are please to respond to the smart city challenge and present our visions for the future. We are a city on fire, with swagger , a city reimagined . Now, it’s time grow smarter

We are please to respond to the smart city challenge and present our visions for the future. We are a city on fire, with swagger , a city reimagined . Now, it’s time grow smarter

No, this doesn’t mean we’ll have flying cars or robots serving us our morning coffee, although that would be handy during evacuation orders. But according to TECO’s website, they’re “leveraging technology to make our cities more connected, resilient and efficient, improving the lives of all citizens.”

Well, huzzah!

Imagine the possibilities: traffic lights that actually work in sync, waste management systems that don’t resemble a post-apocalyptic wasteland, and a hurricane warning system that doesn’t give false alarms every time someone sneezes. Maybe we could even get an innovative fire management system, considering the recent trend of ‘storms with fire.’ We could have drones that swoop in and extinguish fires before we can even say ‘smart city.’

But let’s not get carried away. This is Tampa, after all. The odds of this tropical storm sparking a smart city revolution are about as good as a snowball’s chance in, well, Tampa. More likely, we’ll end up with a few more potholes, another tall tale about the ‘great storm of 2023,’ and maybe, just maybe, a slightly more efficient streetlight or two.

So, buckle up, Tampa. Whether we’re on the brink of a smart city revolution or just facing another typical Tuesday, one thing is for sure: it’s never a dull moment in the Sunshine State.

Dr. Jermaine Gordon

Dr. Jermaine Gordon migrated to Florida, U.S in 2009 in his early thirties. From the heart of Kingston Jamaica, Dr. Gordon is the perfect embodiment of former international Fashion Model meets business Savvy Expert. He is a Fashion Model that has hit runways all around the world in over 7 countries. He elevated his passion for Fashion and Modeling into his own brand. The Olanquan brand. This brand stemmed from the blood sweat and tears of Dr. Gordon a young kid that was bullied for the Fashion he wore, who now has his own clothing line designs, Fashion Show and magazines and more loved by hundreds of thousands worldwide. He not only has a great eye for design but also a great heart and doesn't forget his roots which is why he started The Olanquan Feed The Kidz foundation to give back to his community. Dr. Gordon, now rubbing shoulders with the movers and shakers in society. They include Kimora Lee-Simmons an American model, Curtis Jackson aka Fifty Cent and former playwright Ralph Holness. " At age 17, I became a member of the Area Youth Foundation- a brilliant avenue for at-risk youths to express themselves through drama. Jermaine wrote a script for his group which won the Best Award. Ralph Holness a special guest at the event spotted Jermaine's acting talent and quickly drafted him into his production Balm Yard Affairs. He also played lead roles in Ruth Samuels, Hell A Pop A Yard and Hugh King's Night Work The opportunity took the young actor to three different countries with 700 shows to his credit. He was then in his early twenties. He further his academic studies receiving a Doctorate in Divinity at the Universal church in Seattle, Washington. He also did a diplomatic course at the University of London; later flew to Germany mastering a global governance course which covers management, a leadership and team development. Today, Dr. Gordon is the Founder and C.O.O. of Olanquan Broadcasting Company (OBC), 'He hope this will give a second chance to the forgotten voices.

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