Memphis Population Down, County and MSA Populations Languish
Thumbnail: The 2020 Census demonstrates that the African American diaspora that began in the...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 23, 2021 | City of Memphis Government, Data Points
Thumbnail: The 2020 Census demonstrates that the African American diaspora that began in the...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 19, 2021 | City of Memphis Government, Economic Development, Livability, Politics and Government, Shelby County government, Talent, Uncategorized
Thumbnail: The consolidation campaign has adopted a jobs theme, but government structure has nothing to do with economic success. The two facts that determine economic success are talent and livability, and Memphis and Shelby County lacks the consensus program to improve educational attainment and to create a livable community
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 16, 2021 | City of Memphis Government, Health, Shelby County government, Tennessee Legislature
Thumbnail: With a life or death opportunity to show real leadership, two local legislators instead fuel anger and victimhood for their own political purposes.
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 12, 2021 | City of Memphis Government, Data Points, Downtown Revitalization
According to urban expert Jeff Speck, urban streets are being used like highways, successful...
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 9, 2021 | City of Memphis Government, Leadership, Shelby County government
Thumbnail: A new consolidation campaign is being shaped by a group in closed meetings when transparency and data and research-based comments are essential. It’s the same approach that has failed in the past, so how about doing something different – engaging the public in a real conversation with case studies, white papers, and studies? That way, even if consolidation fails – which is likely – there will be residual value from the process.
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 5, 2021 | City of Memphis Government, Criminal Justice
Thumbnail: Memphis’ major violent crime rate has climbed in five of the last six years, creating the single biggest frustration for the Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, who was elected on the pledge to lower the crime rate.
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 4, 2021 | Uncategorized
Posted by Smart City Memphis | Aug 2, 2021 | City of Memphis Government, Parks and Greening
Thumbnail: Tom Lee Park’s is on its journey in becoming a special place in this community as a result of the best-in-class designers who imagined a spectacular riverfront park.
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jul 29, 2021 | Civil Rights, Education
Thumbnail: The University of Memphis’Athletics Department made a serious misstep when it signed a contract with a right wing radio station spewing vitriol about African Americans, Black Lives Matter, and more.
Read MorePosted by Smart City Memphis | Jul 26, 2021 | City of Memphis Government, Downtown Revitalization, Parks and Greening, Planning and Urban Design
Thumbnail: A successful downtown hinges on its walkability, and a complaint about removing 62 unsafe parking spaces from Riverside Drive is merely a distraction from a real discussion about equity.
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.