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.

As Housing Units Multiply, Local Businesses Struggle to Hang On in Downtown Oakland
The city of Oakland, across the bay from San Francisco, is the rare California city quickly adding housing units to the urban core. Local businesses are struggling to hang on as construction changes the fabric of the neighborhood.

'Housing Twitter' and the Great Debate
In case you weren't already aware, there are is a how subculture of debate and controversy on Twitter devoted to the subject of housing. And if you were aware, and perhaps are a participant, here's what Fast Company is saying about you.

Oil and Water: Ride-Hailing and Airport Traffic
It's not your imagination. Surface traffic at airports is worse than ever, according to this article, because of ride-hailing companies.

New Landscape Architecture Prize the First of its Kind
The Cultural Landscape Foundation last week announced the creation of an international landscape architecture price, to be awarded for the first time in 2021.

Train Travel Gains Popularity as 'Flight Shame' Trends in Europe
A greener life means fewer flights for many Europeans.