Voting Yes for a Better Civil Service System
We’ve talked about ballot initiatives that deserve no votes, but there is the opportunity to vote yes on one amendment – the City of Memphis Proposed Ordinance No. 5512 – which would improve...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 4, 2014 | City of Memphis Government
We’ve talked about ballot initiatives that deserve no votes, but there is the opportunity to vote yes on one amendment – the City of Memphis Proposed Ordinance No. 5512 – which would improve...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 3, 2014 | Civil Rights, Taxation
We’re urging anyone who understands that constitutions are not amended for political opportunism and the political whims of the day to vote against Amendment 1 and 3. Amendment 1 is an...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 31, 2014 | Trends and Issues
Profile of Memphis’s Children Memphis Child Poverty Rate, 2013 – 45.7% Child Poverty Rate by Race – 2013 52.8% – African-American 62.5% – Hispanic 14.0% – Caucasian (not Hispanic) Female Head of Household...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 29, 2014 | Neighborhoods
The most exciting things in Memphis are regularly happening below the radar, without waiting for officialdom’s approval, away from the limelight, and with no interest in...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 27, 2014 | Uncategorized
Note: Community Benefits Agreements are being used in cities across the United States to set out what companies and developers will do for the community in return for...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 24, 2014 | Downtown Revitalization, Economic Development
One of our favorite things about this community is its lack of pretension and snobbiness. Perhaps, it comes from the fact that the character of the city was shaped fundamentally...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 23, 2014 | Economic Development, Talent
Memphis is struggling, our challenges are daunting, and maybe, just maybe, we should acknowledge those facts in making a pitch for the 25-34 year-old college-educated talent that...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 20, 2014 | Taxation, Tennessee Legislature
We all know people who are egotistical to the point of arrogance. They think they are always right and only their opinion matters. They always volunteer their advice and opinions to...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 17, 2014 | Poverty, Shelby County government
Previously posted February 5, 2010, but becoming more true everyday: The primary reason we are so exorcised about I-269 and other sprawl-inducing highway projects are because they deepen the economic segregation that...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Oct 15, 2014 | Downtown Revitalization
The Downtown Memphis Commission’s recently released “State of Downtown” report underscored the message that downtown is crucial to Memphis and its future and how the CBD...
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, 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 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.