Author: Smart City Memphis

Even America’s most depressed downtowns are showing vigorous signs of life. It’s a surprising development no one predicted in the bleak years of the 1970’s and 80’s when many so-called experts dismissed...

Politics, like life, is all about timing.That’s why you would think that the proposal for county government to put $5-6 million into a proposed development on the “Highland Strip” would be problematic; however, it passed 7-2 in...

The local controversy about the National Civil Rights Museum is now the equivalent of the Southern California wildfires – sometimes it only takes one person with a grievance to strike a match that ends up threatening what most...

Forbes posted an article yesterday about the most sedentary cities in the U.S., and unfortunately, Memphis is #1. When the reporter called last week about this, she asked us about the causes and the responses. Here’s the...

So, here’s our question for the county board of commissioners: Why would anyone send you a gift unless they are trying to influence your position or gain your political favor?Were any of these gift-givers sending you presents...

John Branston, in this week’s Flyer, proves again that he doesn’t miss anything and writes about the recent discussion here about Beale Street Landing. You can read it here.

What happens to America as its largest generation ever gets older? Walker Smith says get ready, because Baby Boomers are not going home to retire. Instead, they will be out seeking their next new adventure. Walker is with us to...

Knox County Chancellor Daryl Fansler’s landmark ruling on the Sunshine Law provides a thoughtful defense of the open meetings law and the rationale behind its importance to open government. It’s must reading for...

Giving more evidence of a general lack of sensitivity by some elected officials about the need to restore the public’s confidence in their governments, a committee of the Tennessee Legislature seems intent on gutting the...

Finally. That was our immediate thought when we read that a Knoxville judge and jury threw out a dozen elected officials who were chosen in violation of the Tennessee Open Meetings Law. Of course, if violations of the Sunshine...