“Growing up in College Park on W. Harvard Ave., I never imagined becoming the first female Chief Technology Officer for the City of Atlanta. My childhood apartments have since been torn down as the community has begun to transform, but I could not have imagined the amount of change that has occurred in the South Fulton (#SoFu) area today.”
The term “Smart Cities” holds different meanings for different people. For Tye Hayes, it’s really about using technology to deliver city services, using data to make informed decisions when planning and budgeting and ensuring there is overall digital equity and inclusion for all residents. Smart Cities is about improving and connecting the community within the existing city as well as rallying local cities to work together to power big improvements. The success of a transitioning smart city cannot depend solely on the tools that come with advancing technology. According to Hayes, the city must also focus on ensuring gentrification doesn’t occur with innovation and that housing remains affordable for its residents. Though the objective of progressing a smart city consists of holding the existing city together and elevating as a community, there are other key elements #SoFu should consider.
“In my experience, implementing strategic investments into the fiber infrastructure, leveraging public-private partnerships and proactively sharing the long-term vision with the community are also major keys to success,” Hayes says. “I am looking forward to seeing #SoFu thrive in its transition and grow into its full potential within this tech-driven era. I believe this can be done by learning from and working with the surrounding areas and without completely losing the true essence of the area I hold dear.”