State Certified Tax Law Is Archaic and Punitive
The certified tax state law, the so-called “truth in taxation” law, mandates that local...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 25, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Shelby County government, Taxation, Tennessee Legislature
The certified tax state law, the so-called “truth in taxation” law, mandates that local...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 22, 2025 | FedEx, John Branston
By John Branston Fred’s gone. The man we could least afford to lose died Saturday. Among...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 21, 2025 | City of Memphis Government
Update: New sign. Same BS. If MLGW cannot be trusted to complete street paving, how can it be...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 19, 2025 | Memphis History, Planning and Urban Design, Sports
By John Branston I see where the Memphis Redbirds and AutoZone Park are having a hard time. I see...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 16, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Education, Shelby County government, Taxation
By Cardell Orrin This budget season, a quiet but significant divergence in fiscal policy has come...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 15, 2025 | Uncategorized
Cartoonist Bill Day never fails to prove the point that a picture – in his case, a cartoon – is...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 12, 2025 | Education, Livability, Parks and Greening, Talent, Uncategorized
It was a pleasure recently to be part of New Memphis’ fine podcast series, Meanwhile in...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 5, 2025 | Education, Leadership, Media
The following is the commencement speech by 60 Minutes’ Scott Pelley to the graduating class...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 2, 2025 | Data Points, Economic Development, Regionalism
The Memphis regional economy is in freefall. At least that’s the opinion of the Milken Institute’s...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 29, 2025 | John Branston, Leadership
By John Branston GRIZZLIES COUNTRY, MT – Our 26th president had the cojones of Hemingway, 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 at Memphis magazine, author of two books and a museum exhibition, and consultant on public policy and strategic planning. 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: “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.