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Author: Smart City Memphis

Ending Systemic Racism: What Should Government Do?

Ending Systemic Racism: What Should Government Do?

Posted by | Jul 10, 2020 | ,

Thumbnail: I recently posted a New York Daily News’ column by David Eichenthal, prominent consultant on city finances and justice with the PFM Group.  He was also lead consultant to City of Memphis’ Five Year Strategic Fiscal and Management Plan.  He says police and corrections have become sacred cows, with elected officials calling for more police as a show of their commitment to crime reduction, when it is time to reexamine and revamp hiring practices to require standards of professionalism, no tolerance policies toward abuse, and common sense policies limiting the use of force.

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Metal Museum Recommended For Rust Hall In Overton Park

Metal Museum Recommended For Rust Hall In Overton Park

Posted by | Jul 3, 2020 | , ,

Thumbnail: The search committee is recommending to city officials that The Metal Museum becomes the next tenant of Rust Hall in Overton Park now that the Memphis College of Art has closed down.  Armed with a promise to create a national museum and a pledge of $12 million from an out-of-town donor, the Metal Museum becomes the perfect occupant for the architecturally significant building. 

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Neo-Confederates’ Lost Cause Mythology Put South On Race To The Bottom

Neo-Confederates’ Lost Cause Mythology Put South On Race To The Bottom

Posted by | Jun 29, 2020 | ,

Thumbnail: It’s incredulous that we are still working to shake off the vestiges of the Confederacy and incredulous even more that some fanatically hold up traitors who fought to destroy the United States so they could own human beings as property.  Southern states not only lost the war but by clinging to racist myths of the Confederacy, they also sacrificed the future.  In light of the continuing discussions about Confederate statues and the Confederacy itself, I’m posting this column written for MLK50.com on July 27, 2017.  

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The Fiscal Case For Defunding The Police

The Fiscal Case For Defunding The Police

Posted by | Jun 26, 2020 | ,

Thumbnail: Prominent consultant on city finances and justice David Eichenthal’s New York Daily News op-ed is especially relevant to Memphis.  He says police and corrections have become sacred cows, with elected officials calling for more police as a show of their commitment to crime reduction.  He cites that Memphis spends 38% of its budget on police and now’s the time to consider other options to fight crime.   

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Latest Bill Day Cartoon

Trigger Happy ICE, A Cartoon by Award-Winning Bill Day

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.

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