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.
Special Permits Could Be Required for Hotel Development in New York City
Mayor Bill de Blasio is pushing ahead with a controversial approval step for hotel development, despite the warnings of city budget office staff about the long-term consequences of the move.
Unpermitted RV Park Faces Code Enforcement Pressure in Oakland
A controversy over the unpermitted use of RVs for shelter on an otherwise empty lot in West Oakland reveals a confluence of Bay Area housing crises.
Judge Presses Pause on Controversial Skid Row Housing Order
A 60-day grace period and some additional contingencies have been added to a court order for the city and county of Los Angeles to provide shelter or housing to the thousands of people experiencing homelessness on Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles.
3 Takeaways From 2020 Census Apportionment Data
The U.S. Census Bureau yesterday released its first set of apportionment population and resident population counts for the nation and each state.
More Need Than Ever for Drought Resilience on the Colorado River
The effects of climate change are already cutting deeply into the lifeblood of the U.S. West—the Colorado River.