There are 117 article(s) tagged JB Smiley Jr.:

• January 2023

  • Downtown protesters stand together for change

    The crowd at Handy Park heard Downtown Memphis Commission President Paul Young ask, “the question for our city is: what are we going to next?”

    By The Daily Memphian Staff January 28, 2023

  • Memphis City Council wants review of grant funding

    The review comes partly in response to Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division’s decision not to apply for $109 million worth of water infrastructure grants from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

    By Bill Dries January 11, 2023

• December 2022

  • Fairgrounds transformation to Liberty Park has more ground to cover

    As Mayor Jim Strickland formally opened the Memphis Sports and Events Center on Saturday, he had a contract on his desk for the commercial mixed-use development along Central Avenue.

    By Bill Dries December 13, 2022

• November 2022

  • City council elects Martavius Jones as official chairman

    Martavius Jones has been acting chairman of the body since Jamita Swearengen gave up her council seat in August. Council member JB Smiley Jr. remains council vice chairman.

    By Bill Dries November 16, 2022

• October 2022

  • Compromise on MLGW leadership fails in City Council vote

    Council member JB Smiley Jr. proposed that Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland appoint his pick, Doug McGowen, as interim leader of MLGW while a national search is conducted.

    Related story:

    City Council sends curfew enforcement proposal goes back to committee

    By Bill Dries October 19, 2022

• September 2022

  • Council votes down adding mayoral runoff referendum to November ballot

    The item would have required the winner of the 2023 Memphis mayor’s race to get a majority of the votes either on election day or in a runoff.

    By Bill Dries September 01, 2022

• August 2022

  • Smiley concedes to Martin in Democratic gubernatorial primary

    Jason Martin declared victory on Thursday night before all the votes were counted, confident in how the remaining vote would break down. But the totals narrowed considerably as he gave his speech.

    By Ian Round August 05, 2022

  • Martin beats Smiley, Atwater in Democratic primary for governor

    Gov. Bill Lee is expected to win reelection, but Democrats think they have a shot after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, incumbent lawmakers in Congress and the General Assembly all won.

    By Ian Round August 05, 2022

  • What to watch for in the election night vote totals

    While most people will be watching who won and who lost the evening of Thursday, Aug. 4, politicos will be viewing the numbers as the first indication of what could happen in the next election and the elections to follow.

    Related stories:

    Shelby County’s ‘big ballot’ Election Day arrives with theme of change

    Ballot Basics: Aug. 4 Election Day

    By Bill Dries August 04, 2022

• July 2022

  • Democratic gubernatorial candidates tout personal experience in final primary debate

    Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley Jr., Nashville-based critical-care physician Jason Martin and Memphis activist Carnita Atwater touted their qualifications for Tennessee governor.

    By Shera Avi-Yonah July 12, 2022

  • Council blocks additional funding to enforce state abortion laws

    The resolution by council member JB Smiley, who is also seeking the Democratic nomination for Tennessee governor, calls on county law-enforcement officials not to enforce state abortion law. 

    Related stories: 

    City Council approves Frayser expansion of manufactured housing

    City attorney ready to make recommendation on energy consultant for TVA-MLGW debate

    By Bill Dries July 12, 2022

  • Gubernatorial candidate calls on local law enforcement to make abortion low priority

    The proposal is a response to the recent ban on abortions in Tennessee following the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

    By Julia Baker July 06, 2022

• June 2022

  • Democratic candidates for governor debate health care, guns, teacher pay

    The Democratic candidates in the race are Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley Jr., Nashville-based critical-care physician Jason Martin and Memphis activist Carnita Atwater. 

    By Ian Round June 22, 2022

  • City Council rejects used-car lot on Elvis Presley Boulevard

    The council also discussed the riverfront’s Cobblestone Landing, a blight and illegal dumping task force and police escorts for Donald Trump’s Southaven speech.

    By Bill Dries June 21, 2022

  • Resolution to deny Trump security fizzles at City Hall

    A city council resolution calling for Memphis Police to not get involved in any escort of the former President if he comes through the city later this month didn’t make it to Tuesday’s council agenda.

    By Bill Dries June 08, 2022

  • Letter to the Editor: Denying security to former President Trump is an effort ‘filled with hatred’

    “America is at a crossroad. We either come together as one or watch this great nation disappear.”

    By Letters to the Editor June 08, 2022

  • City Council eyes police pay, Mud Island monorail at end of budget season

    The Memphis City Council members could close out its 2022 budget season Tuesday, June 7, with a set of votes on a new property tax rate and operating and capital budgets.

    By Bill Dries June 07, 2022

• May 2022

  • City Council final vote scheduled on expanding term limits

    The Tuesday, May 24, council agenda also includes the second of three votes on a companion ballot question that would allow partisan primaries in city elections.

    Related story:

    County property tax rate set, but budgeting goes on

    By Bill Dries May 24, 2022

• April 2022

  • Council debates partisan city primaries and term limits

    The two proposals were introduced during council committee sessions but appear to have been discussed among council members prior to that. 

    Related story:

    City Council approves Southwind apartments, Liberty Park management contract, more

    By Bill Dries April 19, 2022

• March 2022

  • George Flinn pulls petitions to run for Congress

    Here’s the latest on who has filed or pulled qualifying petitions for the August nonpartisan county races and the state and federal primaries on the same ballot.

    By Bill Dries March 21, 2022

  • Three council members call for review of MLGW proposals

    Letter questions the validity of the process being used to determine what it would take to get a new electric power supplier and build a new system for MLGW to break its 80-year relationship with TVA.

    By Bill Dries March 15, 2022

  • LeMoyne-Owen College celebrates 160 years

    “The history of this institution is pivotal to the Black history of Memphis,” Michaela Thomas, a graduating senior who serves as the current Miss LeMoyne-Owen College, said of Memphis’ only HBCU.

    By Daja E. Henry March 11, 2022

• February 2022

  • Council opposes state bills dropping police residency requirements

    The council debate was underway as state legislators were debating in Nashville. The common factor in both discussions was Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis, who backed the bill in Nashville while outlining strategies to hire more officers who live in Memphis.

    By Bill Dries February 15, 2022

  • Political Roundup: Avant may file; ‘pink wave’ thoughts, and ‘ghettoizing’

    Meanwhile, Jason Martin slams Gov. Bill Lee’s state of the state address and calls for the legalization of pot in all forms. And a look at the May and August ballots ahead of Thursday’s deadline to get on the May county primary ballot.

    By Bill Dries February 14, 2022

  • Weirich, Gov. Lee post fundraising advantage over challengers

    The dollar figures are among the campaign finance reports covering the past six months. They also show Republican county mayoral contender Worth Morgan has a balance of $159,540.

    By Bill Dries February 03, 2022