by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 29th, 2006 7:12pm CDT | Comments Off
Construction has begun on the Southeast Shelby County High School, and already, Shelby County Schools is showing as much sensitivity to the environment as it does to people trying to speak at its meetings. Most of the site has been clear cut so thoroughly it would be the envy of the suburban developers whose interests [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 25th, 2006 8:19am CDT | Comments Off
Last week, The Commercial Appeal called the vote by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners on a conservation easement for Shelby Farms Park a “big step in preserving the park forever.” More accurately, it was one step forward and two steps back. Once again, given the opportunity to take definitive action to protect the park’s [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 24th, 2006 5:37pm CDT | Comments Off
This week on Smart City: Growing up in cities shouldn’t be difficult. Good cities have ample sidewalks, parks, unmatched cultural opportunities and plenty of places to play and explore. But according to David Driskell, UNESCO chair of Growing Up in Cities at Cornell, that is increasingly not the case. David is working with students around [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 23rd, 2006 6:35pm CDT | Comments Off
Memphis City Schools Superintendent Carol Johnson took a major step forward Monday in pursuing the more influential role that she envisions the district playing in the redevelopment of Memphis neighborhoods and as a leader for smart growth. To a standing ovation from school board members, she announced that she hired Louise Mercuro, now deputy director [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 22nd, 2006 7:30pm CDT | Comments Off
Some people are suggesting that it’s time for Memphis and Shelby County Governments to tell Bass Pro Shops to fish or cut bait with its announced plans to put a massive store in The Pyramid. The truth of the matter is that we really don’t have much leverage to be making any demands. It’s not [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 18th, 2006 12:13pm CDT | Comments Off
There may be another reason that the Shelby County Board of Commissioners’ discussion about suing the builder of the FedExForum was closed other than the reasons given at the time: lawyer-client privilege. It may have been also to eliminate public embarrassment about the basis of the county attorney office’s opinion that Shelby County had “no [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 17th, 2006 5:31pm CDT | Comments Off
This week on Smart City, the topic is about living the good life: What is the good life? That’s a question an upcoming exhibition organized by the Van Alen Institute will explore. Its curator Zoe Ryan is with us to talk about The Good Life: New Public Spaces for Recreation and what cities can learn [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 16th, 2006 7:43pm CDT | Comments Off
Surely, Memphis Councilman Jack Sammons kicked himself this morning when he read his comments in The Commercial Appeal justifying the way tax freezes are handed out by Memphis and Shelby County Governments. If he didn’t, there’s probably plenty of economic development officials who’d be glad to do it for him. His comments were the exactly [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 14th, 2006 7:48pm CDT | 1 Comment
So, I’m sitting on the couch at home minding my own business when my wife of 36 years complains that I’m not pulling my weight around the house. There’s no reason, she says, that I can’t be more help in cleaning up, washing the clothes, and vacuuming. Wisely, I apologize but offer a defense. “It’s [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 10th, 2006 8:01pm CDT | Comments Off
It’s a modest project, but it’s a start. Shelby County Government’s plan to design a limited stretch of Houston Levee Road according to smart growth principles is welcome news to taxpayers who’ve been paying a premium for suburban sprawl. Few subjects have been as endlessly discussed in this community as smart growth, and at times, [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 8th, 2006 3:44pm CDT | Comments Off
Tomorrow night, and every Wednesday evening until October 25, we have a chance to do two things that are seriously needed in Memphis – animate Main Street with activity and support Memphis music. That’s because the second Court Square Concert Series, billed as a celebration of local Memphis music, is back from 6 until 8 [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 6th, 2006 9:52pm CDT | Comments Off
While Superintendent Bobby Webb’s announced emphasis on science and math seems a worthy goal for Shelby County Schools, his statistics point out the way that bad information has a way of taking on a life of its own these days. In the article in today’s The Commercial Appeal reporting on his concern about qualified workers [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 5th, 2006 5:36pm CDT | Comments Off
As soon as new Shelby County Commissioner Steve Mulroy takes his oath of office, he seems destined to be under the microscope. He takes office September 1 with high hopes for his ability to maneuver the partisan and racial shoals of county government and act as a mediating influence on the legislative body. His election [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 5th, 2006 3:07pm CDT | Comments Off
While the 11th hour victory by Republican candidates brought back memories of the days of Boss Crump (How many votes did you deliver? Just enough to win.), it does show how tenuous is the Republican hold on the county offices. It sure appears that the Democratic tide will sweep most of them out of office [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 5th, 2006 3:06pm CDT | Comments Off
In light of the changes at the Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission, we direct your attention to our post earlier this week on the future of labels and to Sherman Willmott’s July 29 responses to our earlier post.
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 5th, 2006 3:02pm CDT | Comments Off
Finally, Memphis gets a member on the Tennessee Valley Authority board, a lucrative and powerful position, but with Memphis’ historic ties to TVA, it’s amazing how long it took to do something so logical. TVA has been dominated by East Tennessee influence, and its decisions and direction have largely been made within that context. We [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 4th, 2006 12:16pm CDT | Comments Off
Based on last night’s election performance, The Commercial Appeal needs to reassess its partnership with WREG-TV. Those of us who logged on to the CA’s website, assuming that it would offer the most accurate, up-to-the-minute election returns, were proudly informed that its collaboration with Channel 3 would give us the best coverage of the election. [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 4th, 2006 10:50am CDT | Comments Off
This week on Smart City, the topic is how to respond to new realities and re-think future possibilities: It’s always difficult to leave old ways behind and embrace the new. But our guests this week, working in very different fields, are dedicated to getting us to do just that. Louis Glazer is urging policymakers in [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 3rd, 2006 11:34am CDT | Comments Off
While many local governments are working to solve the problem of the Internet’s “last mile,” Memphis and Shelby County Governments – despite spending about $25 million a year on computer technology – can’t seem to begin the journey. As a result, few websites are as frustrating as those of Memphis and Shelby County Governments. They [...]
by Smart City Memphis (RSS) Uncategorized | August 1st, 2006 11:34am CDT | Comments Off
The world of pop culture was abuzz last week with Justin Timberlake’s overly candid comments about his drug use. We hope he was stone cold sober when he decided to resurrect the Stax label in Memphis, because with the dizzying changes in the music industry, it will require all of his faculties for success. As [...]
by Bill Day. Memphian Bill Day is two-time winner of the RFK Journalism Award in Cartooning. His cartoons are syndicated internationally by Cagle Cartoons. Cartoons Archive →
Photograph by Amie Vanderford
This ongoing series of photographs is intended to show the daily lives of these single mothers in order to invoke recognition of their similarities to all mothers, along with understanding and empathy from the viewer of the strengths that these single mothers possess within the challenging situations they face. My hope is that newfound empathy with these mothers’ lives will give people some pause before they condemn single mothers when discussing issues such as welfare and other politically charged hot buttons.
