Highway Projects Rise With Ghoulish Regularity
We’ve decided that highway projects are the modern equivalent of the old Bela Lugosi Dracula movies. You can drive a stake in him but he’ll always rise again. That’s certainly...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 22, 2012 | Planning and Urban Design, Regionalism, Transportation
We’ve decided that highway projects are the modern equivalent of the old Bela Lugosi Dracula movies. You can drive a stake in him but he’ll always rise again. That’s certainly...
Read MorePosted by SCM | May 21, 2012 | Trends and Issues
From Atlantic Cities: New population estimates were recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau showing that, for the first time, the majority of Americans under the age of 1 are minorities. Or more specifically that white,...
Read MorePosted by Steve Bares | May 18, 2012 | Economic Development
Memphis Bioworks Foundation Memphis is currently in the midst of one of its most important tourism months of the year. For most people, May in Memphis means music, barbecue, cultural events and a sunset symphony. What is often...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 18, 2012 | City of Memphis Government, Education
It’s been a tough few days for the ‘burbs. Shelby County Commissioner Mike Ritz released his analysis of the municipal schools’ costs and the taxes needed to fund them, and...
Read MorePosted by SCM | May 16, 2012 | Uncategorized
From Atlantic Cities: American urban history is dotted with failed (and occasionally infamous) pedestrian malls. But there are success stories too, which offer lessons in designing walkable, mixed-use districts. The...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 16, 2012 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Transportation
Returning to Memphis a few weeks ago after participating in a Washington, D.C., panel sponsored by the Washington Monthly and New America Foundation about the...
Read MorePosted by SCM | May 15, 2012 | Economic Development, Taxation
From Economic Policy Institute: EPI had a tremendously productive week, releasing research on CEO pay and income inequality, the rough labor market 2012 graduates must navigate, the impact of state and local government job cuts...
Read MorePosted by Jimmie Covington | May 14, 2012 | Uncategorized
Recently released population estimates show things are not looking up for Shelby County and the Memphis metro area in terms of growth. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates–for July 1, 2011–show that more people moved...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 14, 2012 | Civil Rights
There are those who believe that there are Biblical admonitions against miscegenation. Should we put it up to a vote to see if African-Americans and...
Read MorePosted by SCM | May 11, 2012 | Downtown Revitalization, Economic Development
From Salon: If you ask Whole Foods why it’s breaking ground on a store in Midtown Detroit this month, it’ll say it wants to be part of “an incredible community” and “make natural foods available to everyone.” And that may be....
Read Moreby 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 →
Since 2005, this has been Smart City Consulting’s blog with the aim of connecting the dots and providing perspective on issues and policies shaping Memphis. Editor and primary author is Tom Jones, columnist, author of two books, and consultant on public policy. Smart City Memphis was called one of the most intriguing blogs in the U.S. by the Pew Partnership for Civic Change; The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal wrote that “Smart City Memphis provides some of the most well-thought-out thinking about Memphis’ past, present, and future you’ll find anywhere,” and the Memphis Flyer said: “This incredibly well-written blog sets out to solves the city’s ills – from the mayor to MATA – with out-of-the-box thinking, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ideas. If you have questions, submissions, or ideas for posts, please email Tom Jones, at tjones@smartcityconsulting.com.