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.

San Jose City Council Supports New Billboards
San Jose, California is suddenly taking a much more permissive approach to large billboards.

15 Cities, 1 Mission: Build More Housing
A coalition of 15 cities in the Boston area agreed to rapidly build new housing to relieve pressure on the regional housing market.

Amazon's First Forays Into Homebuilding Are Worth Watching
A new player with a very familiar name has entered into the residential homebuilding market.

Volunteer Your Travel Data for Science
The Metropolitan Council regional planning organization is looking for better data on how people move around the Twin Cities.

Keeping Construction Sites Clear for Bike Lanes
A proposed law in New York City wants to make sure construction doesn't impede the safe flow of bicycle traffic—the benefit could include better gender representation.