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.
Honolulu, Pittsburgh Lead the U.S. in Livability
Honolulu and Pittsburgh have made a cottage industry of leading the United States on the quality of life index produced by The Economist.
Two New Bike Lanes Coming to St. Paul
A key north-south connection is coming to the St. Paul bicycle lane network.
Envisioning the Chicago Skyline of the Near Future
An already impressive skyline will be gaining some very tall additions by 2023.
Pedestrian Safety Concerns and New Doubts About Autonomous Vehicles
Autonomous vehicle technology is no longer enjoying an uncritical reception. Skepticism, it seems, is becoming a more common response to the idea of setting robot cars free on the streets.
San Francisco Taking a Proactive Approach to Poop
The problem of feces in the public realm is rampant in San Francisco, so the city is launching a new "Poop Patrol."