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.
Cook County Court: Bike Lanes More Than 'Recreational Facilities'
Proof that words matter—especially in court—came when Chicago tried to redefine bike lanes as recreational facilities.
Trinity Parkway Would Raise Dallas-Area VMT by One Million Miles a Day
Pitched as a necessary addition to reduce congestion on interstates 30 and 35E as they pass Downtown Dallas, the Trinity Parkway is likely to induce one million additional vehicle miles traveled a day.
The Big Debate: How Urban Is Job Growth?
Jed Kolko, former Chief Economist and VP of Analytics at Trulia, and Joe Cortright of City Observatory dug deep into a debate that gets at the heart of recent trends in how and where the United States works.
Skyscraper Construction Continues Record Breaking Pace
The new record for skyscrapers built in a year brakes the record set by the previous year. The record is expected to be set again next year.

Love Legos? Looking for a Job?
This sounds like a dream for a lot of Planetizen readers: building models for Legoland.