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.
Streets, Not Scooters, Are the Problem
The media coverage of a tragic crash in Cleveland shows how long of a leash drivers and street design get in the debate about traffic safety and the public realm.

A New Daytime 'Bus Only' Lane Hits the Street in Seattle
New 'bus only' lanes on 3rd Avenue in Seattle are expected to save bus commuters a lot of time, and bus drivers a lot of headaches.
A Program to Convert Vacant Properties Into Affordable Housing
Rochester, New York is launching the new Neighbors for Neighbors program.

NIMBYs: The Rare Bipartisan Coalition in the United States
One thing liberals and conservatives can both agree on: opposition to development projects.

Funding Pieces Starting to Come Together for Portland Bus Rapid Transit Project
The Division Transit Project recently received some badly needed funding from the city of Portland, finally reversing a streak of bad news. The project will still need a substantial allocation from the federal government.