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 $40 Million, Voter-Approved Park Bond That Never Happened
Voters in Cobb County, Georgia, overwhelmingly prioritized parks and green space back in 2008. Cobb County commissioners', however, are still acting to quell those intentions.

Friday Fun: Now You Can Race to Keep the Trains Running on a Mobile Phone
The Mini Metro transit planning game has been around in all its simple and frustrating glory for a few years now, but it only recently became available as a mobile app.

Evaluating California's 'Cash-for-Lawns' Rebate
At the height of the California drought, a group of water suppliers offered rebates for people willing to remove lawns. Now, it's time to figure out if the experiment worked.

'Revealed Preference' Can't Explain the Shortage of Urban Housing Options
A familiar argument of suburban apologists is that people prefer suburban environments over urban environments. Joe Cortright reminds us, however, that "revealed preference" doesn't tell the whole story.

Election Roundup: Planning's Big Day at the Ballot Box
Beyond the headline-grabbing presidential election, many states and localities voted on issues critical to the planning profession.