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.
Seattle's New Updated Pedestrian Master Plan Includes $22 Million for Sidewalks
The promised update for the city of Seattle's Pedestrian Master Plan was released to the public last week.
State Legislation to Pressure New York City for Property Tax Reform
New York City's property tax system is a growing source of political consternation, and now state legislators have entered the fray.
'Supervised Injection Facilities'—Successful in Canada, Coming to the U.S.
Needle exchanges are still controversial in some parts of the country, so expect "supervised injection facilities" to be even more so.
D.C. Metro Approves Fare Hike, Service Cuts
For months, transit advocates have dreaded the decision to raise fares and cut service throughout the D.C. Metro system. That day arrived last week. Changes take effect on July 1.
Seeing the Better City, Making a Better Place
The author of the new book "Seeing the Better City" (Island Press) explains the importance of practiced skills of observation, and how a "vocabulary of looking" can be a foundation for participation in civic discussion.