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 Gap Between the Cost of Housing and the Wages of Workers in 8 U.S. Cities
It's not just New York and San Francisco—many professions don't offer enough wages to afford an apartment at today's prices.
Midwest Cities Preparing for the Water Management Challenges of Climate Change
Climate researchers are hoping to coordinate the efforts of Midwest cities toward creating plans and working toward more holistic approaches to climate change.
Learning from the Humble Trailer Park
An examination of the common trailer park reveals a few key lessons about land use, urban design, and private governance.
An Update on the Ambitious Lowline Project in New York
The Lowline is "one of the most intriguing" project proposals anywhere in the United States—so much so that it still seems a long shot to many observers.
Houston Real Estate Slumping Along with the Oil Industry
The Houston Chronicle investigates the Houston-Area real estate market, finding signs of the oil slump's effect on a formerly hot market.