Justifying Racism Is Not Patriotism
Many of us have participated in Leadership Memphis, New Memphis Institute, and other similar civic programs where we agreed that it is our...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jul 22, 2019 | Civil Rights, Leadership, Trends and Issues
Many of us have participated in Leadership Memphis, New Memphis Institute, and other similar civic programs where we agreed that it is our...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jul 19, 2019 | Uncategorized
There is a special screening Tuesday, July 23, at 6 p.m. of the documentary, In The Absence, that will spotlight the long-term effects of disinvestment in core city neighborhoods. It will be held at Habitat for Humanity...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jul 18, 2019 | City of Memphis Government, Downtown Revitalization, Planning and Urban Design
In truth, celebrating Memphis’ 200th anniversary this year is largely ceremonial, ignoring earlier settlers and forgetting...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jul 15, 2019 | Downtown Revitalization, Economic Development, Livability, Planning and Urban Design
With so much potential for the future of downtown – stepped-up investment, a spectacular riverfront, smarter parking, and more – we were drawn back to Jeff Speck’s 12...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jul 10, 2019 | Economic Development, Planning and Urban Design
We’ve heard a great deal in recent years about how population growth is a top priority for Memphis to the point that it spawned yet another reason to waive taxes, this time for apartments that were supposedly the magnet for...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jul 8, 2019 | Downtown Revitalization, Economic Development, Livability, Planning and Urban Design
Cities across the U.S. have been undergoing a parking revolution for years and it has finally reached downtown Memphis where it is receiving the careful...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jul 5, 2019 | Data Points
County Migration Rates = The number of people moving into and out of counties 2018 Census Bureau estimates for 12-months ending July 2018 + 9,136 – Wake County (Raleigh) + 4,915 –...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jul 1, 2019 | City of Memphis Government, Downtown Revitalization, Livability, Parks and Greening
It’s no secret that I’ve been a fervent supporter for turning Tom Lee Park from a pasture into a signature park. As the debate unfolded, we’ve received some...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 28, 2019 | Uncategorized
Unemployment Rate 2.1 % – Nashville metro 2.6 % – Oklahoma City metro 2.6 % – Richmond metro 2.8 % – Indianapolis metro 2.9 % – Cincinnati metro 3.0 %...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 26, 2019 | Civil Rights
In light of the killing of Brandon Webber in Frayser, we reprise this post from November 9, 2015: For as long as we can remember, our community has been...
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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 →
Smart City Memphis has been called the oldest, continuously operating in its original form, independent blog in the U.S. Its aim since 2005 has been to connect the dots and provide perspective on issues and policies shaping Memphis. 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 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.