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.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit Overhauling Fare System to Improve User Experience
The changes to DART's fare system will target improvements in the user experience for residents without bank accounts or enough cash to buy monthly passes—i.e., some of the people who need transit most.

Can Detroit's Urban Revitalization Undo the Mistakes of Urban Renewal?
Some experts think the language used to describe a redevelopment project in Detroit might be overly ambitious.

World Bank Report: Climate Change Puts 1.3 Billion People at Risk
Among the other interesting facts acknowledged by the World Bank: the costs of dealing with the effects of climate change are already increasingly quickly.

Federal Rule Changes Remove Obstacles to Multi-Modal Streets
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) made official a set of rule changes that overthrow an old way of thinking about street design.

Chicago Chinatown's an Outlier of Success
While the cultural authenticity and geographic footprint of Chinatowns around the United States shrink, Chicago's is growing. What can other cities learn from Chicago's model?