Author: Smart City Memphis
Young Leaders In Philadelphia Driving Police Reform Debate
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Sep 14, 2020 | Criminal Justice, Leadership, Talent
Thumbnail: The Philadelphia Millennial Advisory Committee – created by city government to obtain input from millennials. They may be getting more than they bargained for, becuase the group is a model of active leadership by young leaders and they are making the most of the opportunity to provide candid, honest, and direct opinions, most lately on the subject of police reform and issues related to Black Lives Matter.
Read MoreCan The Police Committee Be A Force For Change, Not More Of The Same?
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Sep 10, 2020 | City of Memphis Government, Civil Rights, Criminal Justice
Thumbnail: The new committee on reimaging policing has the opportunity to be the change agent that Memphis has needed. It requires them to do more than rely on the usual suspects for ideas, data, and recommendations. Recent research by Prof. Barry Friedman and commentaries by consultant David Eichenthal are must reads for the committee to get off on the right foot.
Read MoreThe Economic Injustice Built Into Memphis’ Low Wage Jobs
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Sep 7, 2020 | Economic Development
Thumbnail: Memphis’ long tradition of exploiting people of color for low-wage jobs builds on a foundation of economic injustice.
Read MoreMemphis Poverty Is Endemic And City Is In Distress, REPORT SAYS
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Sep 4, 2020 | Data Points, Poverty
Thumbnail: Memphis’ neighborhood poverty continues to be the leading problem facing the city. The Economic Innovation Group summed it up in graphic terms in its May, 2020 report, The Persistence of Neighborhood Poverty – Examining the power of inertia and the rarity of neighborhood turnaround across U.S. cities. Memphis is one of six cities spotlighted in the report.
Read MoreProperty Assessments Barely Increase In Shelby County, Fall in Memphis
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Sep 2, 2020 | City of Memphis Government, Shelby County government, Taxation
Thumbnail: To compound the revenue shortfall caused by Covid-19, Memphis also saw the assessed value of property fall by $23.6 million. Shelby County saw a really small increase – less than one-half of 1%. It is a troubling sign for the future.
Read MoreMemphis Economy Continues Decline in July – David Ciscel
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 31, 2020 | Economic Development
Thumbnail: Since March, the rich may not have gotten richer, but the poor has definitely gotten poorer. Overall, the picture is grim. Memphis is not part of the national trend showing improvement.
Read MoreShort Reads: Graceland, Liberty Park, and Port of Memphis
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 27, 2020 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Tourism, Uncategorized
Thumbnail: Graceland’s dogged efforts to tell Memphis what it’s own documents mean, Liberty Park may be the next Volunteer Park, and big news at the Port of Memphis.
Read MorePILOT Talking Points Crowd Out Facts; Shelby County Should Stop Tax Breaks
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 24, 2020 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Shelby County government, Taxation
Thumbnail: Despite the regular talking points about PILOTs, City Hall – in a bubble surrounded by people who benefit from the tax breaks – has no way of knowing if the tax breaks are justified. If city mayors want to hand out PILOTs, Shelby County Government’s taxes should be exempt because they support safety net programs and education.
Read MoreA Gas Station On Broad: A Test For Memphis 3.0’s Livability Vision
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 20, 2020 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Livability, Planning and Urban Design
Thumbnail: The Board of Adjustment vote on the proposed gas station/convenience store in the Broad Avenue Arts District is about more than a project. It is a vote on whether the vision captured in Memphis 3.0 it more than empty words.
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.