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.

Clean Energy Sector Shed More Than 100,000 Jobs in March
The great recession led to major gains in the clean energy sector, but so far, clean energy workers are struggling like everyone else.

State Legislators Rescind Gas Tax Support in Massachusetts
While advocates argue for raising the gas tax while gas prices are low, Massachusetts legislators are backing away from an idea they supported in March.

Density Debate Rages Alongside the Pandemic
Questions about how highly contested questions about the future of the built environment will reference COVID-19 for years to come. The question about whether that debate will achieve any actual change is still very much up for debate.

Calls for Environmental Action Increasing as Coronavirus Lingers
We can't go back to the way of life that makes pollution and climate change acceptable, according to multiple articles published on and around Earth Day. It's time for change.

Pandemic and the Ills of Age Segregation
Older generations have increasingly segregated over the past century-plus of U.S. history, and the pandemic is only one more example of why that's a problem for young and old.