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.
Checking in on the Plans to Build the 'LowLine' Park Under New York City
Plans to transform 60,000 square feet of dormant space under New York's Delancey Street into a park could be ready to reemerge into the public discussion.
Is Sluggish Single-Family Housing Construction Slowing the Economy?
The Wall Street Journal implies a take on the U.S. economy that might make some urbanists uncomfortable: more single-family construction is necessary for a full economic recovery.
Comparing the World's Transit Systems
How does New York stack up compared to London, Tokyo, or even Moscow?
With Texas Sprawl: Fewer Places to Roam
An outdoors enthusiast laments the explosive sprawl that is quickly sucking up places to hunt and fish in the state of Texas.
One Developer's Appreciation of Landscape Architecture
A planner and developer waxes poetic, and keeps it pragmatic too, about the importance of landscape architecture.