Author: Smart City Memphis
Dr. King’s Words Echo in Our School Debate
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 17, 2011 | Uncategorized
This annual holiday in honor of America’s great nonviolent prophet, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is always a timely occasion to read the inspiring words of a minister who understood that his faith called for him to stand up for...
Read MoreNothing Special About County Schools Latest Plan
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 15, 2011 | Memphis City Schools, Uncategorized
Previously posted November 22, 2010: Shelby County Schools Board Chair David Pickler extending an overture to Memphis City Schools is the equivalent of Dr. Kevorkian volunteering to work in ICU. You know he’s going to do...
Read MoreSchools “Compromise” – A Cure Worse Than The Disease
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 13, 2011 | Memphis City Schools
Peace in our time. Once again, short-term political interests may be on the verge of defeating long-term good sense. It appears that in hopes of eliminating political risk, some people are willing to sell the rights of Memphians...
Read MoreGetting Past the Memphis Mythology to Get to the Truth
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 12, 2011 | Uncategorized
This was previously published as Memphis magazine’s City Journal column: Memphis is a mythic city. We lay claim to mythic musicians and entrepreneurs who created our greatest exports to the world — from B.B. to Elvis to...
Read MoreMark Norris: Working to Deny Memphians’ Right to Control Their Own Future
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 11, 2011 | Memphis City Schools
Just when we were trying to give Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris the benefit of a doubt, thinking that there might be a chance that he would be the grown-up in the suburban debate about school consolidation, he’s...
Read MoreCounty Attorney Sheds Light on Key School Issues
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 9, 2011 | Uncategorized
Shelby County Attorney Kelly Rayne was already doing a lot right in the few months after being appointed a few months ago by Mayor Mark Luttrell, but her stock goes up even higher with us with the release of her opinion on the...
Read MoreEDG(E)ing Toward A Better Economy
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 7, 2011 | Economic Development, Uncategorized
It’s hard to argue that Memphis Mayor A C Wharton and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell shouldn’t be concerned about our county’s declining economic fortunes, and their new economic development umbrella (complete with one of...
Read MoreFlashback: County Rhetoric Leaves Reality Behind
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 6, 2011 | Memphis City Schools
We reprise this post from February 26, 2006, as Memphians get ready to vote (yes, there will be a vote) on consolidating our dual, and dueling, school districts into a single district with one vision for every student in Shelby...
Read MoreThe Case for School Unity
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Jan 5, 2011 | Memphis City Schools
As we are napalmed with lies and assailed by fear mongers, we received this dose of reality- the facts about school merger and reasons to support it – from our friend, Shelby County Commissioner and University of Memphis...
Read MoreLatest Bill Day Cartoon

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 →
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About Smart City Memphis
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, columnist at Memphis magazine, author of two books and a museum exhibition, and consultant on public policy and strategic planning. Smart City Memphis was called one of the most intriguing blogs in the U.S. by the Pew Partnership for Civic Change; The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal wrote: “Smart City Memphis 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.