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.

A Pittsburgh Bike Plan Preview
Pittsburgh is expected to release its Bike(+) Plan later this year.

The Role of Local Governments in Stabilizing the Economy
By providing support for workers and small businesses, local governments will play a crucial role in weathering the virus and stabilizing the economy.

King County Postpones August Target for Transit Sales Tax Initiative
King County, home to Seattle, will wait to ask voters to approve a 0.2% sales tax for funding transit until a time both when transit use is higher, and people aren’t facing waves of sudden unemployment.

More Questions Than Answers in Real Estate
The effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the U.S. real estate market are only beginning to show, but renters, homeowners, landlords, lenders, and more need to prepare for the worst.

The Architecture Billings Index Was Strong on the Eve of the Pandemic
The Architecture Billings Index in February 2020 could lend hope in the current economic climate, or it could set a benchmark for a future recovery.