Death and Taxes
The following is my City Journal column in Memphis magazine that was published in February: It’s...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Aug 14, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Politics and Government, Taxation | 0
The following is my City Journal column in Memphis magazine that was published in February: It’s...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Jul 28, 2025 | Education, Politics and Government, Shelby County government, Tennessee Legislature | 0
By Cardell Orrin A new Tennessee state law was passed that specifically targets Memphis-Shelby...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | May 12, 2025 | Federal Government, Federal Policy, Politics and Government, Taxation | 1
“All politics is local” was the oft-repeated maxim of former Speaker of the House of...
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...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Feb 3, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, John Branston, Politics and Government | 3
By John Branston The line forms this week outside the door of Mayor Paul Young’s office on...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Jan 15, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Downtown Revitalization, Economic Development, Planning and Urban Design, Politics and Government, Poverty, Taxation, Tennessee Legislature | 0
The following blog posts were the most read in 2024: 1) City Council’s New Salary-Setting Power...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Oct 7, 2024 | Livability, Media, Politics and Government, Uncategorized | 1
America has a serious immigrant problem. They are eroding our values and our way of life. They are...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Sep 19, 2024 | John Branston, Politics and Government | 4
By John Branston WARNING! Boring post ahead. Nothing to see here. Memphians don’t vote as...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Mar 18, 2024 | Education, Memphis City Schools, Politics and Government, Shelby County government | 1
“Students lose out as cities and states give billions in property tax breaks to businesses –...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Mar 14, 2024 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Politics and Government, Shelby County government | 0
The local hotel-motel tax is 55 years old this year. It’s a funding source that has allowed...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Feb 12, 2024 | City of Memphis Government, Civil Rights, Politics and Government, State Government | 0
Simple rule in life: the best way to avoid being called a racist is not to act like one. That...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Nov 20, 2023 | City of Memphis Government, Criminal Justice, Data Points, Politics and Government | 1
Map: Memphis Crime Last 12 months: numbers represent charges If we knew the answers, we wouldn’t...
Read Moreby 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 →
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, columnist at Memphis magazine, author of two books and a museum exhibition, and consultant on public policy and strategic planning. Smart City Memphis was called one of the most intriguing blogs in the U.S. by the Pew Partnership for Civic Change; The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal wrote: “Smart City Memphis 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 solves 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.