Keeping Boxtown, Land of Broken Promises, Priority for xAI Tax Fund
The “breaking news” headline on TV news said: “Proposal would reinvest xAI tax revenue into...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 25, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Memphis History, Taxation
The “breaking news” headline on TV news said: “Proposal would reinvest xAI tax revenue into...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 21, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Criminal Justice
by John Branston Crime is down in Memphis and across America, and anyone who says they know why...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 18, 2025 | Criminal Justice, Shelby County government
Few things provoke more suspicions than a project that arrives almost fully formed on a public...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 16, 2025 | Arts and Culture
At 6:30 pm on Sunday, August 24 at the Orpheum Theatre, 203 S. Main, Memphians of all ages are...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 14, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Politics and Government, Taxation
The following is my City Journal column in Memphis magazine that was published in February: It’s...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 11, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Downtown Revitalization, Memphis History, Transportation
Those of us of a very certain age can still remember the colorful floating boat houses located at...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 10, 2025 | Uncategorized
Cartoonist Bill Day never fails to prove the point that a picture – in his case, a cartoon – is...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 9, 2025 | Arts and Culture
With Elvis Week now upon us, the Overton Park Shell is offering tours of its new backstage museum daily at noon, 2pm and 5:30 pm. Tours can be booked here or by calling (901) 482-1695.
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 7, 2025 | John Branston, Memphis History, Tourism
Editor’s Note: This year’s Elvis Week is being closely watched by tourism officials...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 4, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development
USA Today asked me to would write a column about the status of the xAI project. It was published...
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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 →
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.