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.
No Dogs Allowed at One Colorado State Park
A state park in the Colorado Springs area tried allowing dogs on trails over the summer, but too many people complained about the impact of the canines on the wilderness experience.
Salvaging Historic Building Materials for Job Creation and Environmental Benefit
A proposed ordinance would save derelict buildings from the wrecking ball, and send them to the salvage yard instead.
D.C. Auditor Reveals Blight Enforcement Shortcomings
There's a surprising amount of vacancies and blight in the nation's capital, and District officials aren't doing everything in their power to address the challenge.
Report: MTA Shortcut Safety to Deliver the Second Ave Subway on Cuomo's Schedule
The New York Times has a potential damning report about shortcuts taken by the New York MTA, under the leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo, to deliver the Second Avenue Subway on its scheduled opening date at the beginning of the year.
Carson Op-Ed Lays Out the Trump Agenda for HUD
Ben Carson has penned an op-ed that lays out the ideology driving the Trump Administration's approach to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.