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.

Water Draws the Line Between the Haves and Have-Nots in the South Bay Area
Development proposals in one of the least affluent communities in the Silicon Valley have repeatedly been scuttled due to a lack of water. Wealthier communities have more than enough.

$26 Million Civic Center Station Renovation Breaks Ground in Denver
Few cities in recent years have broadcast as many headlining transit investments as Denver. The renovation of a station handling 15,000 passengers a day is the latest.

Coming in 2018: Direct Rail Connection Between Forth Worth and the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport
Fort Worth residents will soon have a direct rail connection to the airport, similar to the one currently enjoyed by Dallas residents.

How Some Cities Stay Little
Some cities that want to grow are stuck in the small town zone, while others growing cities would prefer to stay small.

One Solution to the Last-Mile Problem: 'Park-and-Pedals'
For a year, Boston has been developing a new kind of park-and-ride system: park-and-pedal. One commentator evaluates the idea as a nice halfway point between the first-mile and the last-mile.