Putting Down the Detroit Put-Downs
It seems like a good time to swear off the Memphis-Detroit comparisons once and for all. They are a staple of online comments and the ultimate self-loathing putdowns. Although Memphis...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Mar 8, 2012 | Politics and Government
It seems like a good time to swear off the Memphis-Detroit comparisons once and for all. They are a staple of online comments and the ultimate self-loathing putdowns. Although Memphis...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Mar 7, 2012 | Planning and Urban Design, Uncategorized
We’ve promised to swear off – if not viscerally reject – any comparisons of Memphis to Detroit, but a recent post in Detroit caught our eye because it offered some warning...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Mar 5, 2012 | Planning and Urban Design
Memphians’ lack of self-worth has resulted in some projects that give new meaning to the phrase, penny wise and pound foolish. Too often, it’s been as if we are the ultimate...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Mar 2, 2012 | Civil Rights, Politics and Government
It seems almost daily that our young grandchildren appear to have more self-control than the ultra-conservatives suffering from Nashville fever. It’s...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Mar 1, 2012 | Livability, Planning and Urban Design, Transportation
The madness continues. The following is a message from our friends at Livable Memphis sent by Sarah Newstok and here’s our earlier post on the 2040 Long-Range Transportation Plan: Dear partners, Last week, we submitted...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Feb 29, 2012 | City of Memphis Government, Taxation, Transportation
Two articles in Sunday’s Commercial Appeal could have been “tombstoned,” which, in the parlance of newspaper journalism, means the headlines and stories are side-by-side. Of...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Feb 27, 2012 | Taxation
Nothing is quite as confusing as government financing, and that’s never been truer than now. There seems to be big numbers every where – the $30 million for The Pyramid, there’s the idea of a new convention center likely...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Feb 23, 2012 | Economic Development, Education, Trends and Issues, Uncategorized
We’ve shown up in several places lately, and we appreciate the attention. Featured in PolitiFact First, The Commercial Appeal’s outstanding PolitiFact’s Truth-o-Meter ruled that...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Feb 21, 2012 | Taxation
Shelby County Government has been a prisoner of the past. Or more specifically, it is captive to poor decisions about public policies made as long ago as 30 years, policies that set county government off in directions...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Feb 20, 2012 | Education
Nothing is more frustrating than trying to be reasonable with unreasonable people or trying to be logical with illogical people. It’s tempting to apply this principle to...
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 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.