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.

Native American Protest Grows in Response to North Dakota Pipeline Project
Comparisons to Wounded Knee have been common as a growing number of Native Americans are gathering in North Dakota to protest the construction of a new crude oil pipeline.
$300 Million Cap Park Proposed for Downtown Atlanta
Other cities have taken notice of the smashing success of Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, Texas. Atlanta now wants a downtown cap park of its own.

Green Spaces Are Making a Comeback in New Orleans
Some good news from a state that has seen far too much bad news this year: local officials report that the trees of New Orleans are making a surprisingly strong comeback after devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.

D.C. Metro to Test Free WiFi at Six Subway Stations
The beleaguered D.C.-area transit agency finally had something to talk about besides repair schedules, delays, and debt.

Chicago's Warehouse Building Boom
Online shopping and gentrification is fueling a bona fide building boom of warehouse spaces in Chicago.