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.
Construction Errors Delay Crenshaw Light Rail in Los Angeles
The Crenshaw/LAX line, under construction in Los Angeles and passing through the city of Inglewood to connect the Expo and Green lines, was originally scheduled to open in 2019.
Eviction Moratoriums Rescinded After Landlords Threaten Lawsuits
While a statewide eviction moratorium is still in place, the example of Upland in Southern California suggests that local eviction moratoriums might not withstand legal controversies.
Opinion: Don't Allow Highway Boondoggles in Stimulus Spending
Instead of doubling down on the unsustainable planning and building practices, the current crisis offers a chance to hit reset, according to this article.
Large Cities Were Already Losing Population. Then Came the Coronavirus.
"Cities of all sizes may soon look less alluring, if drastic drops in income, sales and tourism tax revenue leave gaping holes in budgets," according to this article, which encapsulates a popular school of thought as the pandemic rages.
Is it Time to Revive the Pattern Language?
Software and other fields have made brilliant progress with the pattern language methodology, while built environment fields lag badly, mired in parochial debates over the massive book that invented the methodology.