Happy Fourth of July, A Cartoon by Award-Winning Bill Day
Cartoonist Bill Day never fails to prove the point that a picture – in his case, a cartoon – is...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jul 4, 2026 | 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 | Jul 2, 2026 | Poverty
Map Source, Memphis Poverty Fact Sheet 2025 Despite every effort to combat poverty, Memphis...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 29, 2026 | Data Points, Population Loss
By now, every one in our region knows that Memphis is losing population. Memphis is hemorrhaging...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 27, 2026 | 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 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
ICE is costing Memphis jobs – 4,522 to be precise. That’s according to the Brookings Institution, which says there has been a 256% increase in enforcement. In a city that is losing jobs, this should be reason enough...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 25, 2026 | City of Memphis Government, Parks and Greening
It seemed like a good day to go to Mud Island and check in on the BVO immersive experience...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 22, 2026 | Economic Development, Leadership, Planning and Urban Design, Politics and Government, Population Loss, Poverty
Memphis needs a story. It’s a different kind of story. Not one from history. Not one about a...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 18, 2026 | Data Points, Population Loss
Note: Occasionally, this blog reprises a post from 20 years ago. On June 30, 2006, the post here...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 15, 2026 | City of Memphis Government
A walker killed in Whitehaven Friday afternoon after being struck by a vehicle suggests Memphis...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 11, 2026 | Education, State Government, Talent
As the new state-mandated oversight board for Memphis-Shelby County Schools takes effect,...
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by 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, City Journal columnist at Memphis magazine, author of two books and a museum exhibition, and consultant on public policy and strategic planning. He has written articles for MLK50, The Commercial Appeal, and USA Today. The blog was called one of the most intriguing blogs in the U.S. by the Pew Partnership for Civic Change; The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal said it “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 solve 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.