A Tough Few Weeks: Too Much Loss
It is said that death comes in threes. First, there was widely admired news executive Eric Janssen, and his death was followed by deeply respected news...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 30, 2017 | Uncategorized
It is said that death comes in threes. First, there was widely admired news executive Eric Janssen, and his death was followed by deeply respected news...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 26, 2017 | Economic Development
“Our advantage is the Negro…and there is no race problem at all.” That comment was made in 1900 when The Commercial Appeal was assessing the state of a new century’s...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 24, 2017 | Economic Development, Education
It may not have made headlines, but it was big news nonetheless: Seeding Success and PeopleFirst Partnership merged. This new organization – now just called...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 19, 2017 | City of Memphis Government, Livability, Parks and Greening
Memphis takes a strong step Saturday away from its grit and grind image and toward its growing green and grand reputation. That’s when the grand opening will...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 17, 2017 | City of Memphis Government
The Government Affairs Committee of Memphis City Council begins discussions today at 10:45 a.m. in the wake of ProPublica’s article labeling Memphis “the...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 16, 2017 | City of Memphis Government, Civil Rights, Politics and Government
The Tennessee Historical Commission last Friday denied City of Memphis’ request to remove Confederate memorials honoring a racist past from its parks (while...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 13, 2017 | Livability
This blog post about Indie Memphis is part of our occasional posts from 10 years ago. This one was published October 14, 2007: We’re as guilty as everyone else in taking for granted some special Memphis experiences that deserve...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 11, 2017 | Uncategorized
Our friends at Jewish Community Partners are publishing a fascinating series of posts as part of its citywide commemoration – and celebration – of the 70th anniversary of the founding of Israel. Jewish Community Partners is the...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 9, 2017 | Education, Shelby County government
We’re talking to someone who works in several dozen U.S. cities every year, and the comments are a cold dose of reality: “This is an exciting time in Memphis, but when you go to...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 5, 2017 | Economic Development, Regionalism, Trends and Issues
Milken Institute’s 2016 Best-Performing Large Cities: In a ranking of the 200 largest MSAs, the Memphis metro ranks #149. That was a significant move up the list from 2015 when the...
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.