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.
Friday Not Funny: Drake Meme Appears in a NYC Parks Department Rendering
An armed forces veteran or a Boston Marathon bombing survivor would have been a better choice.
Proposed Density Causes 'Chaos' at the Newark City Council Hearing
A suite of zoning changes that would increase building heights and density along the Passaic River in Newark, New Jersey, provoked a chaotic council hearing that devolved into shouting and the removal of residents from the council chambers.
A Health-Focused Building Certification Gets Its First Showcase
The first WELL-certified buildings are now online, and the Urban Land Institute has examined the business propositions behind the system.
Organization Sets Up Tents to Shelter Homeless in Detroit
A civil rights organization has taken direct action to provide support for homeless people living in Detroit.
Buses: Going Where No Electric Vehicles Have Gone Before
A 40-foot bus, dubbed the "Catalyst E2 Max," has broken the world record for longest drive on a single charge, according to manufacturer Proterra.