Author: Smart City Memphis

If The Pyramid stands as a symbol of anything these days, it is as a reminder that the promise of innovative ways to pay for public buildings often dies quietly when it comes to the reality of making it happen.This comes to mind...

You’ve got to admire Paducah. While the spotlight most often falls on large cities grappling with ways to strengthen their arts scene, there’s much to be learned from the small Kentucky rivertown. Few cities, regardless of size,...

This week our guests are from Fayetteville, Arkansas and the City of New York – two very different communities in many ways. But they are both seeking better solutions for land use and transportation.Dan Coody is Mayor of...

In the midst of our concerns about Memphis’ future, we said in a meeting this week that we need to remember there are model programs here setting national standards. Someone immediately challenged us to name just three. They...

There’s an axiom that government staff members live by. When an elected official gets emotional or strident about an issue, it’s not political. It’s personal.These are always the worse kind of issues for employees and other...

Sometimes, it just seems that Memphis is too timid for its own good. Too often, the people we expect to articulate and fight for a defining principle or a critical issue seem to go along to get along.We thought of this in light...

Can cities rebound from disaster? Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams is convinced his city is on the rebound from years of job losses and despair. At 36, Mayor Williams is the city’s youngest mayor, and he is determined to turn...

Regardless of your point of view, the fact that the future of Juvenile Court will be decided in Chancery Court is a sorry spectacle.The lawsuit is a stark testament to narrow political agendas winning over the best interests of...

From Keith Kirkland, executive director of Wolf River Conservancy:The Wolf River Conservancy’s wish for Memphis in 2007 is that our community will come together at our 6:00 p.m., Feburary 8, Greening Greater Memphis Event...

For political appointees in government, there’s often a choice – doing what’s right or doing what you’re told.There’s an axiom repeated frequently by these appointees – loyalty flows up, not down. As a result, those who risk...