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.

The Case for Proof of Payment
All good transit wonks have an opinion on proof of payment.

The Political Map of 2016 Looks Like the Carbon Emissions Map of 2016
There's a trend here.

National Trust Releases New 'Atlas of ReUrbanism'
The National Trust for Historic Preservation's new Atlas for ReUrbanization relies on a metric called "character" to explore the relationship between historic preservation and affordability.
Christmas Cancelled for Keystone Opportunity Zone Prospects
For a few tantalizing months it seemed like the state of Pennsylvania might have the funding to spare an expansion of the Keystone Opportunity Zones program.
The Last Days of the Home Affordable Modification Program
The Washington Post takes stock of the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) in its final days, finding a program hampered by bad faith from large banks and bad oversight by the Treasury Department.