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.
Sunday Funny: The Pope Blesses Ailing U.S. Infrastructure
The Onion notes the effusive compassion of Pope Francis by imaging that his trip to the United States this week included an act of healing for the nation's infrastructure.
Skyscrapers as the Enemy of Cities
An op-ed in The Globe and Mail expresses animosity for the wave of skyscraper construction in old world cities like London.
Dallas Working to Build More Protected Bike Lanes
Not all bicycle infrastructure is created equal. Dallas planners are working to find new ways to build protected bike lanes instead of sharrows and other half-measures.
Take Care of Trees (They Take Care of You)
New research suggests that trees offer a "layer of protection" for cardiovascular disease.
How to Build a Real-Time LED Display of Your City's Transit System
One MIT student's love of transit means no one in his house will ever miss the T.