Author: Smart City Memphis
Memphis MSA: Economic Development By The Numbers
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Apr 26, 2021 | Economic Development, Taxation
Thumbnail: In the midst of the vigorous defense of the present PILOT programs by economic development officials, the inconvenient truths about the economy should be our wake-up call. Among the 53 largest metros, Memphis continues to lag in performance, as it has for at least 20 years.
Read MoreSpending On Police Rises While New Ideas Decline
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Apr 23, 2021 | City of Memphis Government, Criminal Justice
Over the past three decades, U.S. cities have allocated larger and larger shares of their budgets...
Read MoreA Historic Appointment As Memphis Police Chief Comes With Historic Opportunities
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Apr 21, 2021 | City of Memphis Government, Criminal Justice
Thumbnail: The appointment of Cerelyn Davis as the new police chief in Memphis is historic in selecting an African Woman, the first outsider in 50 years. More to the point, it could be historic in bringing new ideas and new voices into law enforcement strategies in Memphis.
Read MorePoliticians Push To Get PILOT Program Right
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Apr 19, 2021 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Shelby County government
Thumbnail: In their joint meeting last week, a majority of Memphis City Council members and Shelby...
Read MoreGermantown Politicians Putting Gun To Head of Shelby County Schools
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Apr 15, 2021 | Education, Tennessee Legislature
Update: The bill described in this post did not reach the Senate floor today and it appears to...
Read MoreHatred And Fear, The Cruel Political Strategy: This Time It’s Trans Youth
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Apr 12, 2021 | Trends and Issues
Thumbnail: Hatred and fear are the engines for the political posturing of the far right. The most...
Read MoreThe Facts About Appraisals, But They Don’t Make 30% Increases Any Easier
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Apr 8, 2021 | Shelby County government, Taxation
This post is written by Jimmie Covington, veteran Memphis reporter with lengthy experience...
Read MoreCancel Culture, A Cartoon by Award-Winning Bill Day
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Apr 7, 2021 | Uncategorized
City Hall Friction Crosses Main Street And Fuels Blowup About Ethics Allegations
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Apr 6, 2021 | City of Memphis Government, Shelby County government
Thumbnail: Allegations about a possible conflict of interest by Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. has resulted in a years-ago conflict at Memphis City Council involving him, Shelby County Mayor, and Council Attorney Allen Wade exploding into county government. It raises questions about whether the City Council’s attorney should represent county elected officials and embroil himself in county politics that include excoriating the county mayor.
Read MoreLatest Bill Day Cartoon

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 →
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About Smart City Memphis
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.