Mayor Young Offers The Most In Data Center Moratorium
Memphis has a streak of gullibility that springs up from time to time from a lack of self-worth....
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Oct 12, 2026 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Leadership, Livability, Planning and Urban Design | 2
Memphis has a streak of gullibility that springs up from time to time from a lack of self-worth....
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Oct 5, 2026 | City of Memphis Government, Downtown Revitalization, Livability, Planning and Urban Design, Transportation | 0
Note: This is the second of two posts. The first on September 21 was Part One: Revisiting Jeff...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Sep 21, 2026 | City of Memphis Government, Downtown Revitalization, Economic Development, Planning and Urban Design | 0
Note: This is the first of two posts. This one recaps planner and urban designer Jeff Speck’s...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Aug 27, 2026 | Parks and Greening, Planning and Urban Design, Trends and Issues | 0
From 2001 to 2007, the syndicated public radio program Smart City was required listening for...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Aug 13, 2026 | Downtown Revitalization, Economic Development, Livability, Media, Planning and Urban Design | 5
Map: Just a hint of downtown attractions/assets/islands. ** Toby Sells, Memphis Flyer reporter,...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Jul 20, 2026 | City of Memphis Government, Downtown Revitalization, Leadership, Livability, Neighborhoods, Parks and Greening, Planning and Urban Design, Transportation | 1
You may have seen Kelsey Huse on her bike. You may have seen her advocating in public meetings for...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Jun 22, 2026 | Economic Development, Leadership, Planning and Urban Design, Politics and Government, Population Loss, Poverty | 2
Memphis needs a story. It’s a different kind of story. Not one from history. Not one about a...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Jan 8, 2026 | City of Memphis Government, Data Points, Economic Development, Leadership, Planning and Urban Design, Shelby County government | 0
As this blog approaches its 21st year, looking back at the past two decades conjures up events...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Jun 19, 2025 | Memphis History, Planning and Urban Design, Sports | 0
By John Branston I see where the Memphis Redbirds and AutoZone Park are having a hard time. I see...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Apr 22, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Planning and Urban Design, Shelby County government, Taxation | 2
In just a two-year period – 2019-2020 – more than 7,000 single-family houses in Memphis were...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Apr 7, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Planning and Urban Design, Population Loss, Rightsizing Memphis | 0
Memphis and Shelby County leaders have received yet another wake-up call, and after more than 20...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Mar 27, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Planning and Urban Design, Politics and Government, Shelby County government | 0
Thanks to the highly-respected Portland urbanist and economist Joe Cortright for republishing my...
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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 →
Smart City Memphis has been called the oldest, continuously operating in its original form, independent blog in the U.S. Its aim since 2005 has been to connect the dots and provide perspective on issues and policies shaping Memphis. 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 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.