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.

A Big, Expensive Legal Battle Over Coastal Dunes in New Jersey
A small group of residents in Ocean County, New Jersey have lawyered up to resist a state and federal project to build 22 miles of sand dunes to protect the New Jersey coast.

Texas Considering a $70.2 Billion Highway Spending Program
Texas transportation officials will spend the month considering the state's Unified Transportation Program, which could greenlight construction on some $70.2 billion in highway construction between 2017 and 2026.
Proposed Water Pollution Rules Await Federal Approval in Washington State
A long and contentious battle, including threats fro the U.S. Environmental protection Agency, could soon find resolution.

Portland Introduces 'Crossbikes'
It's like a crosswalk, but for bikes.

'State of the Climate' Report: 2015 Set Multiple Records
2015 was basically the Michael Phelps of climate change, according to a new report.