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.
From the Bridge to Nowhere Files: Florida's West Bay Parkway
An examination of the proposed plan for the West Bay Parkway in Florida reveals many holes, a wasteful project, and the need for more accountability in transportation planning.
Mansionization Déjà Vu Reveals Differences of Opinion in Southern California
An editorial favors one local city's approach to mansionization over another's. When will they ever learn?
BART Squeezing Every Inch of Capacity While Waiting for Reinforcements
BART expanded service in September in a display of the lost art of making the most of what they've got.
Drastic Ballot Box Zoning Measure Under Consideration in Boulder
Voters in the Colorado town of Boulder will consider a city charter amendment that would assign land use regulation power to 66 neighborhood-level voting districts.
Comparing How People in 12 Global Cities Ride Their Bikes
The workout-tracking app Strava provided generous access to its data to allow a compare and contrast exercise in how people ride bikes in 12 of the most famous cities in the world.