Author: Smart City Memphis

“You can’t have a city without middle-class families and kids,” our colleague Carol Coletta said in a USA Today article about her CEOs for Cities’ study about what cities can do to retain families. “You can’t have a childless...

It’s always interesting to watch new legislative bodies as they develop a collective personality that is as distinctive as the individuals that combine to create it.That’s taking place now at Memphis City Council, and while it’s...

When you have one of the biggest law firms in Memphis (as Shelby County Government does), the answer to every problem – no matter how insignificant – is based on a belief that every solution is always found in yet another rule...

We’re hoping that the Memphis City Schools Board of Commissioners keeps the metal detectors and X-ray machines issue in perspective.Yes, the price tag is $4.5 million sounds like a lot of money. It’s just worth remembering that...

The mayor of Lakeland had his feelings bruised recently when Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton didn’t give him the same advance warning as the other town mayors about another push for consolidation.Based on comments in The...

The decision to change the name of our alma mater has never looked smarter.Gone is the limp Memphis State University moniker and in its place is the assertive-sounding University of Memphis.This week, it’s looked like the...

Our friend, Amie Vanderford, has posted some gorgeous photos depicting what she loves about Memphis. As she puts it: “I know that we face problems in Memphis, but when looked at through loving eyes, this is still a...

It’s never been clearer that regionalism here is more rhetoric than reality than when DeSoto County acts like an island when it comes to air quality attainment. Its attitude was about as surprising as finding a photograph of...

There is probably no tougher issue for urban leaders than education. Fads come and go but test scores never quite live up to the promises.Dr. Ken Wong is a national expert on education accountability and he has found a...

Our colleague Carol Coletta was interviewed by USA Today about the need for cities to pay attention to ways to keep young people in cities after they have started their families. It’s a special challenge for Memphis, but...