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.

Baltimore Transit Advocates, Politicians Pushing for a Better Bus Plan
First came the demise of the $2.9 billion Red Line light rail project, then came the $138 million BaltimoreLink bus system project. Now a coalition of union and political interests are pushing for a "People's Alternative."

The U.S. Has Officially Flipped the Energy Business
It wasn't supposed to happen until 2017, but the United States made history in November by exporting more natural gas than it imported.

Surprise: Cleveland's Public Square Won't Reopen to Buses After All
The plans for the renovation of Cleveland's Public Square took years to finalize and evolved several times along the way to delivery. Now one final decision will impact bus transit in and around the city.

New Look MBTA Trains Debut in Boston
Boston residents got their first look earlier this week at the new trains that will grace the T tracks in 2019.

Four Ideas for Bolstering Community Development Financial Institutions
As gentrification pressures push into ever expanding parts of country, the need for inclusive community development continues to grow along with it. The Urban Institute shares some ideas for ensuring the financial clout of CDFIs.