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.

Detroit as a Model for 'Building Back Better'
Cities have more experience, and examples, than they might realize when it comes to reinventing systems of investment and governance to recover from the economic ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Developments Lower Rents in Surrounding Neighborhoods, Study Says
A study that made the rounds as a working paper at the beginning of 2019 has now been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Homelessness During the Pandemic
A comic strip illustrates the humans behind remarkable resilience in the face of incredible risks.

Automated Traffic Enforcement Struggles to Find Footing in California State Legislature
If Texas lawmakers hate it, California lawmakers must love it, right? Not so fast.

Office Demand in Seattle Suddenly Back and Bigger Than Ever
The fortunes of commercial real estate in Seattle have completely reversed since February, according to a new analysis.