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.

Study Reveals the Insights of Children in the Planning Process
A recent study of preschoolers shows that small children are intuitive urban planners—if anyone ever listens.

Chicago's Esteemed Architecture Critic, Blair Kamin, Moves On
One of two architecture critics working at major daily newspapers to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, Blair Kamin announced his retirement last week via Twitter.

Ride-Hailing Industry Induces Car Ownership, Research Says
New research from researchers at Carnegie Mellon University finds that instead of setting people free from cars, more people are buying and using cars than ever before.

2020 Sets Record for Billion-Dollar Disasters
Tropical storms, tornadoes, and wildfires, along with everything else.

New York Real Estate Market Shows First Signs of an Uneven Recovery
New data make it possible to trace outline of COVID-19's footprint on the Big Apple real estate market.