Comments – Memphis: All Things Are Possible
Our May 27 blog post, Memphis: All Things Are Possible was the most read post in the 10-year history of Smart City Memphis. It began this way: For about 15...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jul 10, 2015 | Uncategorized
Our May 27 blog post, Memphis: All Things Are Possible was the most read post in the 10-year history of Smart City Memphis. It began this way: For about 15...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jul 8, 2015 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Taxation
It seems like both sides in the controversy about possible appeals by City of Memphis of 200 commercial property tax assessments find themselves with less than winning...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jul 6, 2015 | Arts and Culture, City of Memphis Government, Economic Development
It is hard to think of a better fulfillment of the “Heart of the Arts” vision for Overton Square than the addition of Ballet Memphis’ new headquarters on the site of the decrepit French Quarter Inn at 2144 Madison Avenue. No...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jul 2, 2015 | Poverty
A large number of Americans do not have or use traditional mainstream financial products like checking or savings accounts. In many cities, such as Los Angeles, almost every family has a checking or savings account, but...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 30, 2015 | Livability, Neighborhoods
Janet Boscarino’s 20-year business development career was going well but something was nagging at her. It was the gnawing concern that her hometown wasn’t as clean as it could be...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 26, 2015 | City of Memphis Government, Downtown Revitalization, Neighborhoods
The proposed moratorium on development in the Pinch Historic District may be 25 years too late, but it’s better late than never. That’s why we think that Memphis City...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 24, 2015 | City of Memphis Government, Livability
Maybe the Sons of the Confederacy are right. We should not rewrite history. But that requires us to write it right in the first place. Let’s put the names of real heroes on our parks and monuments, such as nationally prominent...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 22, 2015 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Shelby County government, Taxation
Just when there is an encouraging new energy and a feeling of momentum here, we are reminded of the nagging lack of self-worth that surfaces too often in this...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 18, 2015 | Civil Rights, Livability, Uncategorized
We received the following post from Matthew Timberlake in the wake of the murderous evil that took place last night at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. : By Matt Timberlake You know what you can do to end racism? You can...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jun 18, 2015 | Economic Development, Poverty
Discussions about the living wage sometimes are treated like a dry, abstract subject debated by economists without it being connected to real people and real economic growth. In Memphis, the living wage is in truth a strategy...
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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.