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.
Study: BRT Lines Offer Significant Real Estate and Jobs Benefits
The real estate market has been transformed in cites that added bus rapid transit in the past decade, according to a new study presented this week at the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting.

Doing Well By Doing Good: Passive House and Affordable Housing
Pennsylvania finds proof that Passive House standards can be built at affordable housing prices, after the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency incorporated Passive House benchmarks into its Low Income Housing Tax Credit application.
Alejandro Aravena: First Chilean Architect to Take Home the Pritzker Prize
The awarding of the Pritzker Prize to the 48-year-old Alejandro Aravena sends a strong signal about the architecture world's focus on social responsibility.
Lack of Congressional Support Kills Landmark Klamath River Deal
There might not be a drawing board to go back to after an agreement that would have removed four dams along the Klamath River died in Congress.
D.C. Inclusionary Zoning Tweaks Would Serve Lower Income Households
The D.C. Zoning Commission will be the first to consider staff recommendations for adjustments to District's inclusionary zoning policy.