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.
Everything About Tax Increment Financing
A controversial form of value capture, tax increment financing begs for further analysis and understanding. A new report by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy sheds light on the subject.
Construction Materials Increasing Building Costs
With the price of steel increasing significantly since the beginning of the year, the construction industry has little choice but to build through a more expensive process.
Utilities Still Catching Up to Public Opinion on Renewable Energy
Renewable energy enjoys broad public support—the utility industry is more skeptical.
Addressing a Bus Driver Shortage in San Francisco
The ongoing quest to fix Muni enters a new chapter, after a driver shortage impacted bus service earlier this year.
Editorial: Drastic Changes Needed to Solve New York's Public Housing Crisis
Even if the money for repairing New York City's public housing were to materialize, it would be money poorly spent, according to this editorial.