Author: Smart City Memphis

Previously published as Memphis Magazine’s City Journal column:Few phrases are as overused today as “defining event,” but it’s never as accurate as when many in my Boomer generation look back at the life and death of Dr....

A decision by Memphis City Council to cut city schools funding will create chaos.A decision to cut school funding will throw city and county budget hearings into turmoil.A decision to cut school funding will create havoc in the...

When Washington ignored climate change, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels decided to ignore Washington. He convinced almost 800 mayors to sign on to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and he is determined to make his own...

Before you think we’re losing our minds, hear us out.It’s a proposal we’re calling “poor man’s consolidation.”The only reason that we have this end-around opportunity at transforming city and county governments is because both...

The Memphis Charter Commission has the chance Thursday to do something progressive for our city – to create an election process that deserves to be called 21st century.At the meeting, Charter Commission members will vote on...

Continued from yesterday.In the past, economic development programs like Memphis 2005 have received widespread support from the private and public sectors, but in the end, their residual impact was limited. The reasons included...

The Memphis economy has reached the moment of truth.Languishing in the lower rungs of the economic indicators that matter, we have reached the point where we either snap out of it or we sink into the abyss with Detroit and...

The race to attract and keep talent is on. Even in this economy, many companies – and cities – are doing everything they can to make themselves more appealing to college graduates and those who may be seeking new...

The Washington Post headline could have just as easily been in The Commercial Appeal. It said: “Safe Harbor” Offers Shelter From Strict “No Child” Targets.The report said that hundreds of schools in Maryland, Virginia and...

Ah, springtime in Memphis.Blooming flowers, Beale Street Music Festival and another organization chart for Memphis City Schools.Yep, there’s yet another one this week following Interim Superintendent Dan Ward’s creation of a new...