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.
Conflicting Views on How Best to Combat Gentrification, Explained
Two new reports, and one older one, assign unequal significance of the ability of new market rate housing to filter older housing into affordability.
Federal Agencies Investigating the Rising Costs of Detroit's Blight Program
Detroit's aggressive blight reduction strategy, to demolish vacant homes by the thousands, is coming under scrutiny for rising costs. The FBI and the U.S. Inspector General are investigating.
Inside the Mysteries of St. Paul's Wheelock Parkway
An exploration, historical and geographic, of St. Paul's Wheelock Parkway reveals the twists and turns of transportation infrastructure.
A New Children's Book for Teaching Green Urbanism
Next City shares news of a colorful new book for children that introduces the objects of a environmentally-friendly build environment.
Meet Citi Bike's Top Users—Some Have Pedaled More than 4,000 Miles
Some users accrue more data than others.