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.

Innovations in Post-Master's Graduate Planning Education
Professional doctorates or certificates of advanced graduate study (CAGS) can offer an alternative to a PH.D. for planners looking to expand their education beyond the master's degree.

More Bad News About the State of New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit system, with an operating budget reduced to 10 percent of its 2009 total, has become more of a vessel for nepotism than a provider of safe transit service, according to a recent editorial.
Washington, D.C. Announces an Ambitious Affordable Housing Agenda
The Washington, D.C. Housing Preservation Strike Force released a final report last week.

Coal's Future Still Unclear, Despite Trump's Campaigns Promises
It's only taken a week for the coal industry to get swept under the rug, to an extent, by Republican leadership in Washington, D.C.—not to mention their energy market competitors.

Tokens Finally a Thing of the Past for Philly's Transit Riders
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) are expecting to roll out the final components of the new SEPTA Key system, allowing all riders to pay the fare with something other than tokens.