
Wildfires fuel fears of AI city takeover plan
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As California battles devastating wildfires, conspiracy theories are emerging that link the disasters to the controversial “SmartLA 2028” initiative, with critics suggesting the fires serve as catalysts for implementing an AI-driven urban transformation.
The current wildfire crisis has wreaked unprecedented havoc across Los Angeles County. The destruction spans over 38,000 acres, claiming thousands of buildings and taking 16 lives, while another 16 individuals remain unaccounted for.
The Palisades Fire emerges as the most severe, engulfing 23,713 acres and destroying more than 5,000 structures. Despite ongoing efforts, containment remains at a mere 11%.
They have a Smart City planned for LA projected for 2028, the incompetence and mismanagement was all planned. This is a land grab. Watch Black Rock offer to help rebuild… @CAgovernor
And @MayorOfLA need to Resign or better yet, go to jail!!
pic.twitter.com/hdXUVAmUOM— Give a mouse a cookie and it turns into a Democrat (@Kaseyswife4life) January 13, 2025
This catastrophe has sparked political tensions, with President-elect Donald Trump placing blame on California’s administrative shortcomings. He specifically targeted Governor Gavin Newsom, criticizing the state’s water management practices and forest maintenance protocols.
Adding to the controversy, investigations revealed that the Santa Ynez Reservoir, a crucial water source for Pacific Palisades, was non-operational during the devastating blaze. According to the Los Angeles Times, this essential infrastructure component had been inactive for approximately one year.
Social media platforms are now buzzing with theories connecting these fires to an alleged scheme aimed at clearing land for smart city development under the UN’s 2030 Agenda.
One X user noted, “LA fires clear the way for SmartLA 2028 and 2028 LA Olympics. The SmartLA 2028 blueprint contains a map of the Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, and Hollywood regions, all seriously fire-damaged, showing their special importance in the coming city restructuring.”
The SmartLA 2028 initiative, detailed in official Los Angeles City documentation, outlines plans for a digitally integrated metropolis aligned with UN 2030 objectives. The strategy encompasses extensive technological integration, from 5G networks to AI-enhanced public safety systems.
The plan features widespread deployment of IoT sensors, advanced surveillance networks, and comprehensive data integration systems. It also coordinates with 2028 Olympic preparations, promising innovative digital experiences for visitors through high-speed connectivity and automated transportation solutions.
Ted Ross, the Chief Information Officer for the City of Los Angeles, said in a statement:
“We live in a world full of urban challenges: from racial injustice that impacts our minority populations to natural disasters that threaten safety and property to environmental changes that affect the very water we drink and the air we breathe.
To address these challenges, cities seek tools that can positively transform the urban environment. The most promising of these tools is technology. While not a silver bullet, technology provides solutions previously unavailable to generations before us.
It is technology that enables transparency in our policing and gives a powerful voice to our diverse communities. It is technology that prepares us for incoming natural disasters.
It is technology that innovates alternative energy sources to reduce pollution and limit our carbon footprint. It is technology that allows people with disabilities to fully participate in civic life.
Technology enables the City of Los Angeles to efficiently and ethically improve the quality of life for our residents, businesses, and visitors. In other words, when done right, technology makes us “smarter”. This is why the City of Los Angeles strives to be a “smart” city.”