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.
Feds Propose New Lending Standards for Condo Developments
The Federal Housing Administration has proposed a rule that could remove one of the barriers to mixed-use developments. Questions still remain about whether the new rule goes far enough.
Five Canadian Cities Already Facing Climate Change
The CBC produced an interactive feature about the dangers of climate change in Canada, focusing on five cities threatened by environmental factors like sea-level rise, flooding, and wildfires.
Germany Pushing Europe to Ban the Internal Combustion Engine by 2030
Germany has approved legislation calling for the end of the end of internal combustion engine by 2030. Whether the rest of Europe follows Germany's lead is to be determined.
Op-Ed: Programming the First Priority for Keeping Public Spaces Safe
Providence, Rhode Island is looking ways to make Kennedy Plaza, located in the city's downtown, safe for all users. Increased law enforcement in only one way to achieve that goal, according to an op-ed in the Providence Journal.
Ryan Gravel Speaks Out After Resigning from the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership
Streetsblog USA shares an interview with the visionary behind the Atlanta BeltLine, who discusses how the city's booming economy has conflicted with the mission of the project.