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.

New Bus Rapid Transit Line Proposed for L.A.'s San Fernando Valley
Measure M, approved by L.A. County voters in 2016, is enabling a slew of transit projects in the San Fernando Valley.

Chicago and San José Achieve LEED for Cities Certification
The U.S. Green Building Council launched the LEED for Cities program in 2016.

Weekly Scooter Media Brief: September 3–11
The news and opinions are filling newspapers and websites faster than electric scooters are filling sidewalks.

SoHo and NoHo Next for the New York City Rezoning Tour
Zoning changes in SoHo and NoHo are expected to allow more kinds of uses by-right in parts of the neighborhood previously restricted to manufacturing uses.

Where There Aren't Enough Schools for New Homes
Parts of Montgomery County, Maryland have declared a moratorium on new homes because schools are overcrowded.