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.

Matthew McConaughey to Star in 'The Urban Planner'
Coming soon to theaters near you: Academy Award Winner Matthew McConaughey portrays an upstart urban planner who learns to throw away the old code and embrace uncertainty.

Spell Check Now Speaks Planner
Microsoft announced a big update to the Word spell check dictionary today to include the constantly evolving and often incomprehensible language of planning.

7 Unpopular Urbanists
You know them when you see them—they're the ones ready to suck the winds out of your sails and set you back at least a month, but probably more, of good work and high morale.

The MTA Released an RFP for TOD—What Happened Next Will Make you OMG
A true tale of two press releases, separated by more than five years.

Pop Quiz: Can You Tell the Difference Between Tiger Woods and a TIGER Grant?
Test your knowledge of discretionary infrastructure funding mechanisms and one of golf's most famous figures with this pop quiz.