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.

One Year Later: What has Cards Against Urbanity Taught Planners?
Reflection on the education provided by the irreverent game called Cards Against Urbanity has led the game's creators to create a new, less snarky version of the game.
When the Rush to Redevelop a Transit-Adjacent Parcel Spells Missed Opportunity
Haddon Township, a suburb of Philadelphia located in New Jersey, might have been so relieved to finally close a deal on a long-disputed redevelopment project that it neglected the immense potential of the opportunity.
The Benefits of Free Transit for College Students
A growing coalition of education and transit advocates are calling for a program that would allow Philadelphia-area college students to access transit for free with their student IDs.
Fixing the Flood of Congestion at its Source
In pursuit of an honest conversation about congestion, Charles Marohn produces a comparison between roads and stormwater infrastructure.
Shifting the Timeline of Hazard Mitigation Plans
South Carolina recently experienced the impacts of what was called a 1,000-year storm. The problem? The state experienced the same level of storm just 26 years ago, and can expect more of the same in the future.