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.
Rezoning Begins in Earnest in Manhattan's East Midtown
The aspiration for a forthcoming Uniform Land Use Review Procedure for East Midtown Manhattan is nothing short of returning the neighborhood to central business district status.
Debating Bike Infrastructure in Vancouver
Bike infrastructure is a source of political controversy, even in cities where biking is already popular.
Coal Plants Are Closing—There's Not Much Trump's EPA Can Do About It
Natural gas and renewable sources of energy are quickly replacing coal-fired power plants in the nation's energy portfolio. Economics, not regulations is determining what gets built, and what gets burned.
How Seattle Houses the People Who Need it Most
The Seattle Weekly explores the question of how Seattle, a quickly growing and desirable city, is working to ensure housing options for its low-income residents.
New Mayor Has Harsh Words for Portland's Office of Neighborhood Involvement
A recent city audit has empowered Portland's new mayor, Ted Wheeler, to criticize the Office of Neighborhood Involvement in Portland.