Comments About Grizzlies Agreement Often Compete With The Facts
In June, 2006, we posted a commentary about the negotiations involving FedEx Forum as the controversy about its construction and financing flared up again. It’s...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Feb 4, 2015 | City of Memphis Government
In June, 2006, we posted a commentary about the negotiations involving FedEx Forum as the controversy about its construction and financing flared up again. It’s...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Feb 1, 2015 | Leadership, Shelby County government, Trends and Issues
One of the most puzzling – if not self-destructive – aspects of local political behavior is seen regularly in suburban elected officials who seem to believe that they can...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 29, 2015 | Planning and Urban Design, Shelby County government
For the second time in little more than a year, Shelby County Government is taking action with the Tennessee Legislature to undermine a long-held policy that recognized the importance of protecting the economic heart of...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 28, 2015 | Economic Development
We received the following notes from someone long involved in our community’s economic development regarding the changes in EDGE policies: From Economic Development Growth...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 26, 2015 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Taxation
The controversial approval of the first-of-its kind retail tax abatement in Memphis and Shelby County for IKEA runs the risk of the EDGE board winning the battle and losing...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 21, 2015 | Downtown Revitalization, Economic Development, Livability
As is often the case, the discussions in response to a post regularly surpass the post itself. To prove that point, we’re bringing forward the abridged discussion that took place to...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 19, 2015 | Economic Development, Leadership, Trends and Issues
Despite hopes to the contrary, it does in fact appear that predictions that the Memphis region is still two years away from rebounding from the Great Recession are...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 15, 2015 | Education, Trends and Issues
As we enter a new year, the two things that Memphis and Shelby County governments spend the most money on dramatically illustrate the choices before us as a community. They are education and...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 12, 2015 | Leadership, Livability, Trends and Issues
The Memphis region’s latest jolt in yet another report showing that our economy is struggling was issued late last week by the Milken Institute. We’re still...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 8, 2015 | Economic Development, Planning and Urban Design, Trends and Issues
Everyone these days has their own list of moonshots – inspired by the description by the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Chairman’s Circle of its own priorities – and we’re no different. In truth, what we call moonshots might be...
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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.