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.

L.A. Could Consider Parks for Sanctioned Camping Locations for People Experiencing Homelessness
L.A. residents are demanding solutions for the city's growing number of people experiencing homelessness, but they don't tend to like those solutions when they include allowing people experiencing homelessness to stay in the neighborhood.

New Book Examines Public Housing as a Locus of Political Power
A new book, "Diverging Space for Deviants," connects public housing with political power.

Plans to Speed Up Buses Slowed as the City Gets Set to Reopen
An ambitious plan hatched during the pandemic in New York City would have copied the success of the 14th Street Busway. The city has slowly retreated from the plan's original scope since the announcement of the plan in June 2020.

The Numerous Obstacles—Past and Present—Facing Black Homeowners
Black Americans pay a higher price to be homeowners—and the number of those who can afford to pay that price is dropping quickly.

Tucson's Pledge to Plant 1 Million Trees
Details and background of Tucson's pledge to plant one million trees by 2030.