Author: John Lawrence

This is the great recession, right?  No one is moving on anything, right?  Besides, Memphis is an extraordinary city with everything to offer and if there was a move to make it would be here, right? Then how is it that over only...

  Last winter I wrote about five hours spent in Downtown Denver because I was so marvelously inspired by what was happening there.  I have not felt that excited since… until now.  A few days in DC and my outlook on life could...

I want our new consolidated metro government to have leadership that embraces fiscal, social and environmental sustainability.  I’d like this leader to have experience ensuring stability in property values.  And I’d like this...

Suddenly, it seems, Americans have become concerned about the mounting national debt.  Why now?  I’d like to think there is something terrifying about $12.5 trillion or $41,000 per person.  I’d like to think that the debt-driven...

Who thought driving cheap eco-cars would really happen? If you have been following the construction of the I-269 loop surrounding the outskirts of the Memphis region, you know that one of the primary tools of disinvestment...

This is not easy to say but I need to clear my conscience by apologizing. To Steve’s Tire and Auto on Poplar Avenue:  I am sorry.  Your crew has replaced tires, repaired breaks and been a terrific example of customer service.  I...

Sweep the streets when it’s dark! Several years ago cities thought they were in crisis.  Revenues were falling, expenses were growing and emergency funds were depleted.  Some aggressively changed tact, or challenged people or...

On March 24th a Sinkhole appeared on I-240.  Helicopters soon hovered above, reporters descended on the scene and traffic was snarled throughout East Memphis.  Approximately 48 hours later, repairs were complete, the emergency...

Bill Gibbons may not have intended to move anyone by withdrawing from the Tennessee Governor’s race. However, I found gems of inspiration in his words that I wish had been more evident through the early stages of his campaign....