The Real Work for a New Wharton Term
Following a campaign whose outcome was set the day he filed his qualifying petition, A C Wharton begins a full four-year term as mayor January 1st, bringing with it pressures to move from the...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Dec 9, 2011
Following a campaign whose outcome was set the day he filed his qualifying petition, A C Wharton begins a full four-year term as mayor January 1st, bringing with it pressures to move from the...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Dec 7, 2011 | Economic Development
There are times when we hypnotize ourselves with our own hyperbole. There are many positive developments under way in Memphis, but our city has no margin for error. As a result, elected...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Dec 5, 2011 | Economic Development, Transportation
Map of Long Range Transportation Plan Projects It’s easier to think of reasons why the University of Memphis should have kept football coach Larry Porter than reasons we should keep the Memphis MPO. The MPO (Memphis Urban Area...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Dec 2, 2011 | Economic Development
The national search for the first head of EDGE seems to be coming to a close, and it sounds like we will once again make the safe choice. While we have a bias for finding the best people...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 30, 2011
Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water…here comes yet another stupid idea from a member of the majority of the Tennessee Legislature. Building on the thinking that brought us guns in parks and restaurants,...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 28, 2011 | Uncategorized
The decision by the unified Shelby County School Board to reject 17 charter applications as a group is a troubling indication that the group can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. The threadbare reasons given by...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 22, 2011 | Uncategorized
Lt. John Pike, who pepper sprayed peaceful demonstrators at University of California-Davis, is also featured in a variety of artwork doing what he does best. You can see them here.
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 21, 2011 | Uncategorized
There are frequent conversations in Memphis about what our city brand should be. Some people suggest that it should be about transportation, other say logistics, and some say our river heritage. Those are important assets...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 18, 2011 | Economic Development, Uncategorized
We thought of Cosmo Castorini in Moonstruck as City Council talked about the proposal to build a publicly-funded garage in Overton Square: “It costs money because it saves money.” City government may appear to be saving money if...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Nov 16, 2011 | Economic Development
The timing is right for Memphis and Shelby County to determine what tools it needs in its toolkit if we are to compete in economic development. Then again, we should more often use some tools that we already have — Tax...
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.