Thumbnail: The always insightful Joe Cortright of the City Observatory think tank pointed out that transportation planners label projects as “pedestrian-friendly” when they are really being designed for cars. The following article by him was published at City Observatory earlier this year.
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Thumbnail: After 48 years of police directors chosen from within the Memphis Police Department culture, Memphis has the opportunity to bring in new perspectives and new ideas with a new hire who is prepared to answer the key question: Does Memphis need more police or better police? It is now also the primary question that is front and center for the newly appointed City of Memphis reimagining police committee.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Thumbnail: While the results of the current poll about consolidation makes for interesting cocktail conversation, a campaign to merge city and county governments is a distraction that keeps us from dealing with issues that matter. It’s not government structure that matter. It’s leadership.
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Thumbnail: The current PILOT programs are not improving key indicators for Memphis workers and calls for a greater commitment to fiduciary duties for Memphis City Council and Shelby County Board of Commissioners. Here are 10 suggestions for helping make that happen.
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Thumbnail: Memphis and Shelby County PILOT programs raise questions on their return on investment, failing to improve key measurements of success. And yet, the programs remain largely unquestioned by elected officials and others who have fiduciary responsibilities for local government.
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Thumbnail: If the Memphis economy is to reboot after the pandemic, the focus needs to be on structural issues that are ice on the wings of the recovery. After the Great Recession, Memphis returned to business as usual and squandered the chance to fundamentally improve the economy. Hopefully, history will not repeat itself.
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Thumbnail: City of Memphis has yet another magic number for the size of its police force. It continues the arrest and jail philosophy that has largely failed to develop a balanced crime-fighting plan that includes prevention and intervention. City Council is being asked to go on record in favor of a 2,800 police force but without the other critical elements to reducing crime.
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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 →
