The Assessor Risks Questions About Fairness and Impartiality
It is the responsibility of the county assessor to identify, locate, and determine the fair market...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Oct 19, 2026 | City of Memphis Government, Downtown Revitalization, Shelby County government, Taxation | 3
It is the responsibility of the county assessor to identify, locate, and determine the fair market...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Oct 15, 2026 | Economic Development, Regionalism, Shelby County government | 0
Compared to the aspirations when it was created, the Shelby County Joint Economic and Community...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Sep 28, 2026 | City of Memphis Government, Shelby County government, Taxation, Tourism | 0
After last week’s report that the Memphis tourism industry is on decline, it seems a perfect time...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Sep 14, 2026 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Shelby County government, Taxation | 0
A favorite economist and urban thinker here is Joe Cortright whose wisdom is regularly posted to...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Jul 23, 2026 | City of Memphis Government, Shelby County government | 0
Shelby County voters will decide in the August election (now in the early voting stage) if the...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | May 11, 2026 | City of Memphis Government, Federal Government, Shelby County government, State Government | 0
It is inarguable that Republican state legislators are engaged in an unprecedented and racist...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Apr 20, 2026 | City of Memphis Government, Leadership, Shelby County government | 4
Reading the platforms for candidates for Shelby County mayor often feels like entering a time...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Apr 16, 2026 | Criminal Justice, Shelby County government | 0
Note: Shelby County Government is moving ahead with a process that will answer fundamental...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Mar 12, 2026 | City of Memphis Government, Shelby County government | 0
Note: A candidate for county office recently advanced consolidation as an issue that deserves more...
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 | Dec 15, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Shelby County government, Taxation | 0
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners is expected today to once again perfunctorily approve Tax...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Dec 8, 2025 | Criminal Justice, Shelby County government, State Government | 0
Just when we think there’s nothing worse than Sheriff Floyd Bonner’s management of the Shelby...
Read More
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.