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.
San Francisco to Prohibit Cars From Turning Onto Market Street
The Safer Market Street project is one of a package of traffic safety projects underway in San Francisco to achieve a Vision Zero goal to eliminate traffic deaths by 2024.
Prop. 13 Under the Microscope Again in California
Long considered a roadblock to raising the revenues necessary to run California, Prop. 13 is one of the country's most notorious political third rails. Two state senators, however, would roll back Prop 13 protections for commercial properties.
Bikelash is Back: Citi Bike Expansion Upsets Upper West Side Residents
The more things change, the more things stay the same. The latest installment of New Yorkers afraid of bike infrastructure has erupted in response to a proposed expansion of Citi Bike into the Upper West Side.

Meet the 606: Chicago's New Elevated Bikeway and Park
Following in the footsteps of the High Line in New York City, Chicago opened a 2.7-mile elevated park, which has already been extremely popular in its first week. Here we round up the initial reactions to The 606, as the new park is called.
Friday Funny: San Francisco Changing Locations Due to Rising Rents
The Onion provides a new take on the "San Francisco is over" quip that has been a popular reaction to the rising cost of housing in the City by the Bay.