David Waters’ Paean To Memphis Just When It’s Needed Most
David Waters is one of Memphis’ best writers and for his entire career, he has reported on Memphis...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Sep 29, 2025 | Uncategorized
David Waters is one of Memphis’ best writers and for his entire career, he has reported on Memphis...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Sep 24, 2025 | Uncategorized
A local politician said that Memphis has a history of taking lemons and making lemonade. And yet,...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Sep 23, 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 | Sep 18, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Uncategorized
Editor’s Note: There are times when the term, arbitrary and capricious, applies aptly to the...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Sep 15, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Criminal Justice, Federal Government, Federal Policy
Is it possible that white right wing politicians will ever tire of telling Black Americans what to...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Sep 12, 2025 | Uncategorized
Mid-South Pride in partnership with the Overton Park Shell, are proud to announce the rescheduled...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Sep 9, 2025 | Federal Government, Federal Policy
In his frantic race to fuel a new Gilded Age, President Donald Trump operates on the cognitive...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Sep 5, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Shelby County government, Taxation
Many of us have wished for a long time that our community had a website that allows us to test how...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Sep 2, 2025 | Education
By Scott Newstok When Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence toured the nation on a “Freedom Train” in 1947-1948, Boss Crump’s Memphis was one of only two cities whose scheduled visits were bypassed....
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 28, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Shelby County government, Taxation
Nothing is certain but death and taxes, so says the proverb. Here in Memphis, it is just as...
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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.