James Brasuell, AICP is the former editorial director of Planetizen and is now a senior public affairs specialist at the Southern California Association of Governments. James managed all editorial content and direction for Planetizen from 2014 to 2023, and was promoted from manging editor to editorial director in 2021. After a first career as a class five white water river guide in Trinity County in Northern California, James started his career in Los Angeles as a volunteer at a risk reduction center in Skid Row. Prior to joining Planetizen, James worked at the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design, as an editor at Curbed LA, as editor of The Planning Report, and as a freelance contributor for The Architect’s Newspaper, the Urban Land Institute – Los Angeles Chapter, FORM, KCET, and the California Planning & Development Report.

Land Use Planning Precedes Streetcar Extension in Milwaukee
Plans to extend Milwaukee's The Hop streetcar line are still years away from fruition, but the city is already at work on development plans to make the most of the opportunity.

Business Community Weigh In on Portland's Downtown Multi-Modalism Plans
A potentially game-changing suite of transit and active transportation projects is under consideration in Portland. The business community has reservations, but is also strongly supportive of aspects of the plan.

New York Voters to Consider Term Limits for Community Board Members
Proposal 3, on November's ballot, aims to bring new diversity to the community board system that advises land use and development decisions around the city.

Coming Soon to a City Near You: Dockless Vespa Share
The electric scooter sharing company Muving offers Vespa-style scooters for rent, and it's already operating in Atlanta. D.C. could be next.

Lawsuits, Delays, and Political Drama as Salesforce Transit Center Fallout Deepens
The news keeps getting worse at San Francisco's newly opened, since closed, Salesforce Transit Center.