Getting Through The Pretzel Logic To School Funding Facts
With apologies to Steely Dan, Pretzel Logic is the best way we know to describe the approach by some members of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners anytime the budget...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 31, 2016 | Education, Shelby County government
With apologies to Steely Dan, Pretzel Logic is the best way we know to describe the approach by some members of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners anytime the budget...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 27, 2016 | Economic Development, Trends and Issues
The Memphis metro economy continues to languish in its recovery from the Great Recession. The U.S. Conference of Mayors predicts that it will be the first quarter of 2018 before it...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 25, 2016 | City of Memphis Government, Parks and Greening, Planning and Urban Design
The Overton Park greensward parking controversy is a potent reminder of the passion that Memphians feel for their “Central Park,” the centerpiece for one of...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 23, 2016 | City of Memphis Government, Criminal Justice, Education, Memphis City Schools
‘Twas ever thus. In the yearly drama of Shelby County Board of Commissioners’ budget hearings, schools need more money and struggle to find support and the sheriff’s request for a...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 20, 2016 | Poverty, Shelby County government, Taxation
Amount of Shelby County Taxes Waived The following are the yearly amounts of Shelby County taxes waived by EDGE (and before EDGE, the Memphis and Shelby County...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 18, 2016 | Economic Development
Memphis and Shelby County have for decades relentlessly chased warehouse and distribution jobs – even waiving tens of millions of dollars in city and county taxes in the process – but because we operate on the theory that any...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 16, 2016 | City of Memphis Government, Downtown Revitalization
We can’t really say we’re surprised, because on January 29, 2016, we wrote about the hazards posed to downtown walkers by the deplorable state of pavers on some parts of Main Street. Last week, a worker in what has been dubbed...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 12, 2016 | Economic Development, Leadership, Poverty, Regionalism, Talent
It’s hard to believe that there was a time 35 years ago that there were some pundits and columnists who predicted that with the rise of technology, places would come to matter less and less....
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 10, 2016 | Livability, Parks and Greening
There was a time – during the heyday of the Memphis Park Commission – when Memphis was recognized nationally for having one of the best city...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 6, 2016 | Trends and Issues
Shelby County continues a trend line of losing population and income. The following are data from the IRS. Shelby County Net Migration Trends 2011-12: -3,162 2012-13: -7,099 2013-14: -5,668 Shelby County Gross Income Migration...
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.