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.
Predicting the Future of Cities After the Pandemic
Two more stories to enter into the archive for the great debate of the coronavirus pandemic: How will the public health crisis change the future of cities?
Independent Music Venues Face a Tough Road Ahead
Where have all the venues gone?
Big Reservoir Planned for California Scaled Back Due to Lack of Funds
Missed in the non-stop coronavirus coverage of the past several months: plans to build a massive reservoir in North California have been scaled back dramatically.
Plans to Restore Transit Service With Social Distancing, Other Risk Reduction Measures in Place
After months of nothing but news of service cuts, plummeting ridership, and cratered budgets, a few U.S. transit agencies are now making plans to restore service with new social distancing guidelines in place.
Reforms Would Ease Approvals Process for Downtown Developments in Santa Monica
The city of Santa Monica will consider approvals process changes that will make it easier to entitle the largest projects allowed under zoning for the city's downtown.