The National Emergency IS The President
In his frantic race to fuel a new Gilded Age, President Donald Trump operates on the cognitive...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Sep 9, 2025 | Federal Government, Federal Policy | 1
In his frantic race to fuel a new Gilded Age, President Donald Trump operates on the cognitive...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Sep 5, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Shelby County government, Taxation | 1
Many of us have wished for a long time that our community had a website that allows us to test how...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Sep 2, 2025 | Education | 1
By Scott Newstok When Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence toured the nation on a “Freedom Train” in 1947-1948, Boss Crump’s Memphis was one of only two cities whose scheduled visits were bypassed....
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Aug 28, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Shelby County government, Taxation | 2
Nothing is certain but death and taxes, so says the proverb. Here in Memphis, it is just as...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Aug 25, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Memphis History, Taxation | 0
The “breaking news” headline on TV news said: “Proposal would reinvest xAI tax revenue into...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Aug 21, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Criminal Justice | 0
by John Branston Crime is down in Memphis and across America, and anyone who says they know why...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Aug 18, 2025 | Criminal Justice, Shelby County government | 0
Few things provoke more suspicions than a project that arrives almost fully formed on a public...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Aug 16, 2025 | Arts and Culture | 0
At 6:30 pm on Sunday, August 24 at the Orpheum Theatre, 203 S. Main, Memphians of all ages are...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Aug 14, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Politics and Government, Taxation | 1
The following is my City Journal column in Memphis magazine that was published in February: It’s...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Aug 11, 2025 | City of Memphis Government, Downtown Revitalization, Memphis History, Transportation | 0
Those of us of a very certain age can still remember the colorful floating boat houses located at...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Aug 10, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0
Cartoonist Bill Day never fails to prove the point that a picture – in his case, a cartoon – is...
Read Moreby Smart City Memphis | Aug 9, 2025 | Arts and Culture | 0
With Elvis Week now upon us, the Overton Park Shell is offering tours of its new backstage museum daily at noon, 2pm and 5:30 pm. Tours can be booked here or by calling (901) 482-1695.
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, 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.