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.
New Orleans Added Almost 2,00 Affordable Units in 2016
A report from HousingNOLA about efforts to create and preserve affordable housing in New Orleans finds reasons to celebrate and reasons to keep working on the challenge.

Major Dam Removal Proposals Move Forward in California and Oregon
The movement to restore the Klamath River by removing four dams has achieved a major milestone in recent weeks.

SEPTA Trains Running on Schedule for the First Time in Two Months
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority returned to a normal commute schedule today, after making sufficient repairs to new trains that didn't start on the right track.

Housing Bond Money Doesn't Go Far in San Francisco's Mission District
The limitations of affordable housing funds are apparent in San Francisco, raising the question of where and how the process of building affordable housing can be improved.

Seattle Could Upzone its Way to Affordability
Seattle is considering a proposal to upzone some of the densest parts of the city as part of its Mandatory Housing Affordability program.