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.
Denver's New R Line Light Rail Open to the Public Today
New to Denver today: 22 miles of light rail, two new system connections, and service to 16 stations. The Regional Transportation District's (RTD) new R Line will also be offering free rides on its first day of service.
Blocked Culverts Continue to Plague Washington Salmon Habitat
Ineffective, blocked, obsolete, and in disrepair—Washington is full of culverts that pose an impediment to the survival of salmon. A court decision should have fixed the problem, but the state's budget has a long way to go to clean up the mess.
Georgia City Decides One Approval is Enough for Some Variances
Grayson, Atlanta exemplifies the kind of administrative considerations that can make or break development approval processes.
Understanding the Varieties of NIMBYism
"To get beyond NIMBYism, we first must understand it," writes Richard Florida.
Friday Funny: A Bus Stop With Funk in Melbourne
"All aboard to funkytown," writes Chloe Booker, transporting readers to a time and a place where the trains had soul and the bells had bottoms.