McGowen, MLGW and Big and Little Things
By John Branston MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen has (rightly,sort of) demanded an apology...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 9, 2025 | City of Memphis Government
By John Branston MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen has (rightly,sort of) demanded an apology...
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 MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 26, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Criminal Justice, Economic Development, Taxation
Leave This Blank:Leave This Blank Too:Do Not Change This:Your email: Today is a holiday for...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 25, 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 | May 23, 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 | May 22, 2025 | Uncategorized
About two years ago, I had the pleasure of spending some time with Lar’Juanette Williams, an...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 19, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Shelby County government, Taxation
State law forbids local governments from receiving windfalls from reappraisal but that doesn’t...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | May 17, 2025 | Uncategorized
Cartoonist Bill Day never fails to prove the point that a picture – in his case, a cartoon – is...
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.