NYC Launches New Smart City Technologies and Young Innovators Program in Brooklyn

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a new smart city solutions and tech education programs for youth at Osborn Plaza in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The program kicked off on Saturday July 8.

In March 2017, Brownsville was announced as home to the City’s first Neighborhood Innovation Lab. The tech equity initiative brings together community members, government, educators, and tech companies to help address neighborhood concerns with cutting-edge smart city technologies. Over the last four months, the City has partnered with Brownsville community leaders to run a series of strategic planning sessions focused on defining neighborhood needs and exploring how smart city technologies can help improve quality of life and support local economic development. Top priorities emerging from this work include improving safety and cleanliness of public spaces, and strengthening access to healthy foods.

“As technology evolves and becomes even more essential to our everyday urban lives, New York City only grows stronger,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “We are thrilled to see the launch of the Brownsville Innovation Lab which will connect residents to resources, dynamic education opportunities, and deliver a significant boost to economic development in the neighborhood.”

Neighborhood Innovation Labs present a unique opportunity for tech companies and universities to respond to community-identified needs and partner with government to test their technology solutions in a real-world environment with community feedback. The initial technology demonstrations being installed at Osborn Plaza in Brownsville include the newest iteration of the Big belly solar-powered smart waste and recycling system, which can hold up to five-times the amount of a regular trash bin and uses sensors to notify maintenance crews when it is full, and two Soofa smart benches, which use solar power to offer free charging for mobile devices.

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