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.
When Will Dallas Update its Tree Ordinance?
A guest column in the Dallas Morning News takes the Dallas political machine to task for delaying a new tree ordinance.
Dam Removal Goes Mainstream
In 20 years, dam removal has gone from a "fringe notion" to "wide acceptance." National Geographic explains how and why this sea change occurred.
On the Value of Inconsistent Setbacks
A columnist in St. Paul makes an argument in favor of zoning variances as a driver of incremental growth and economic development.
Milwaukee Streetcar Debate Stoops to Fear Mongering
Milwaukee Alderman Joe Dudzik's arguments in opposition to a proposed streetcar project have been heard before.
Private Cellphone Data and the Next Frontier of Urban Planning
A survey of the quickly broadening reach of data about the movement of traffic reveals the next step necessary to achieve congestion nirvana: unfettered access to private cell phone data.