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 Big Representation Gap in Austin's Regional Planning
The names and faces occupying decision-making positions in the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization do not reflect the names and faces of the people they are meant to represent.

McMansions Losing Their Shine
Recent analysis shows that Americans are less willing to pay extra for large houses. It's information best viewed skeptically, but it's also worth considering why this trend has finally, semmingly swung the other way.

Survey: Housing Anxiety Growing in the United States
Americans are growing more apprehensive about their housing security.

A Proposed List of the 'First Principles of Urbanism'
The chief policy officer of Google's Sidewalk Labs proposes six first principles of urbanism to frame the potential impact of technology on urban environments.

11 Tickets Sold for the '49ers Express Train' to Levi's Stadium
Before last night's Monday Night Football game, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority reported that they'd only sold 11 season passes to the 49ers Express Train. To cover costs, the goal had been to sell 2,500.