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.

'Little Island' Opens as a Photogenic Addition to the Hudson River
Little Island came into the world as Pier 55 and even managed to come back from the dead before opening last week.

Social Media Critics Roast Plans for Downtown San Jose BART Station
Critics panned new renderings for the 28th Street/Little Portugal station on the planned BART extension into San Jose.

Biden's Infrastructure Targets Shift as Negotiations Commence
The Biden administration announced late last week that they would reduce the spending proposed in the American Jobs Plan from $2.25 trillion to $1.7 trillion, although there is some question about the true significance of those changes.

200 New Homes; 14,000 Interested Buyers
A large new master planned development in San Diego offers another anecdote about the state of the real estate market in 2021.

New $103 Million Greenway a Park, Stormwater Solution in Cincinnati
The newly opened, $103 million Lick Run Greenway started as a court ordered stormwater solution. Local leaders hope it will be that and much more.