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.
Tracking the Increasing Number of Chain Stores in New York City
While the number of national retailers is still growing in New York City, growth is slowing and it concentrated in the restaurant and food sector of the market.
Black Population Plummets in Nashville Neighborhoods
The new development in and around Downtown Nashville is driving out black residents, according to this article.
Two New High-Speed Rail Lines Open in China
It was a big day for high-speed rail…in China.
Four Steps for Making Accessibility a Tangible Part of the Planning Process
Although there is a strong push for accessibility as a key metric in transportation and land use planning efforts, there is still a long way to go in putting theory and intentions into practice.
How Anti-Urban State Legislatures Hurt Cities
Creating a new version of the "haves" and the "have nots," Richard Florida distinguishes cities struggling against state-level anti-urban policies from cities that get more support from the state.