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.
Opinion: Regional Planning Fails the Needs of Southern California's Housing Crisis
The director of a leading "Yes In My Backyard" (YIMBY) organization in Southern California questions the effectiveness of a Regional Housing Needs Assessment methodology recently published by the Southern California Association of Governments.
Post-Christie, NJ Transit Finding a New Way Forward
This opinion piece celebrates the new era of transit funding and planning currently underway in the state, but also calls for more: progress, action, and work.
City to Resident: You Can Tear Your House Down But You Can't Build a New One
The curious case of Cynthia Dunne in Ladue, Missouri, who was permitted by the city to tear down her house, and then subsequently informed that a lack of water pressure prohibited building a new one.
Opinion: End the City Council Land Use Veto
"Member deference" is what they call it New York, but many local elected officials in the United States have veto power over land use and development plans.
A Systematic Approach to Homelessness in San Diego
The city of San Diego is ready to action to house the homeless people living on city streets.