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.

California Adds Bikeshare and E-Bikes to its List of Dirty, Old Car Replacement Options
The Clean Cars 4 All program provides incentives for low-income Californians to replace old, polluting cars with an electric car or a transit pass. Now residents can also choose electric-assist bikes and bikeshare as a mobility option.

The Life and Death of Neighborhood Rebrandings
Surveying the history of neighborhood rebranding in Minneapolis is like taking a tour of post-recession redevelopment.

Speck: Don't Widen I-45 in Houston
Jeff Speck, planning consultant and author of Walkable City, writes an opinion piece for the Houston Chronicle to oppose the plan to widen the I-45 freeway in Houston.

After a Decade of Success, Amtrak in Virginia Poised for More Growth
After ten years of state-sponsored Amtrak service in Virginia, ridership is growing. There are also opportunities for more growth.

Concerns Expressed About the Draft Master Plan for the New Jersey Meadowlands
As the state authority responsible for the regional planning and zoning of the Hackensack Meadowlands District, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority recently proposed the "Draft Hackensack Meadowlands District Master Plan Update 2020."