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.
Not All Mid-Sized Local Economies Are Alike
The research director of the National League of Cities explains the defining characteristics of local economies—namely that of five distinct kinds of local economies, three serve to distinguish the nuances between mid-sized cities.
5 Ideas for the Milwaukee RiverWalk
The Milwaukee RiverWalk is already pretty great, but there's still work than can be done.
Memphis Planning for a Big Expansion of Transit Service
The city of Memphis is ready to expand its transit system, spending $30 million a year in annual operating cost to add 200,000 service hours to the Memphis Area Transit Authority system.
Chicago's Loop Opens its First New L Station in 20 Years
One of the nation's premier transit systems has a striking new addition.
South Bend Has Big Innovation District Plans
Public Radio International (PRI) surveys the keys to an ambitious plan to restore the industrial "temples" of South Bend, Indiana.