News Media: Finding Balance in a Post-Truth World
The presidential campaign damaged a number of American institutions and chief among them was the traditional news media. We’re not talking about the media’s unpopularity...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 28, 2016 | Uncategorized
The presidential campaign damaged a number of American institutions and chief among them was the traditional news media. We’re not talking about the media’s unpopularity...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 23, 2016 | Cartoons
Bill Day’s most recent cartoon. From our first blog post in early 2005, we’ve written about the battle for talent and how some cities are winners and some cities are...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 21, 2016 | City of Memphis Government, Civil Rights
We were wrong in our concern about the slippery slope of policies created by President-elect Donald Trump. It’s more of an avalanche. Already, there is talk about religious registries, use of...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 17, 2016 | Trends and Issues
8,000 – Children Under 6 years with no parents in labor force – 13% 82,000 – Children in low-income households with High Housing Cost Burden – 72% 3,000 –...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 15, 2016 | Livability, Parks and Greening
Almost a century ago, Shelby County Government started buying up land “out in the country” for the working prison farm envisioned by Memphis political boss, E.H. Crump. That began a journey in 1918 that against all odds...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 11, 2016 | Leadership, Politics and Government
It is inconceivable that the president of the United States could be someone my granddaughters cannot respect. But that is precisely where we will be January 20....
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 10, 2016 | Education, Shelby County government
This post is written by Jimmie Covington, veteran Memphis reporter with lengthy experience covering governmental, school, and demographic issues. He is a contributing writer with The Best Times, a monthly news magazine for...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 4, 2016 | Criminal Justice
It’s nothing short of amazing that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has successfully fooled so many people into believing that is apolitical and too pure to ever be tempted to intervene in partisan politics. The clumsy...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 2, 2016 | Civil Rights
The long-awaited film about the Memphis Invaders was shown last night, and anyone alive in Memphis in 1968 remembers the impact that they had during the civil rights movement that culminated in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. coming...
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.