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.

How Coronavirus Will Change Cities, From Public to Private Lives
Changes are coming, but they don't have to be anti-urban, and they could mean a more resilient world for cities and communities of all shapes and sizes.

Applying the Lessons of COVID-19 to Climate Change
Now that everyone understands what an exponential curve looks like, how it works, and how it brings life-threatening risk to their lives, it might be time to re-examine the realities of climate change, too.

How Cities and Communities Can Rebound From the Pandemic
An interview with Michael Berkowitz, former executive director of 100 Resilient Cities, finds a path to the light at the end of the tunnel.

Transportation Response Center Launched by NACTO, Bloomberg Philanthropies
Track the response of local transportation strategies responding to the massive shift in travel demand as a result of the pandemic.

New Online Collaboration Tool, Designed for Effective Pandemic Policy
The Smart Cities Council has launched the "Activator - COVID-19 Mitigation Roadmap."