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.

Columbia River Crossing Project Officially Back From the Dead
Oregon took a substantive step toward reviving efforts to replace the aging Interstate Bridge that links the state with Washington.

Presidential Politics Enters the Des Moines Rezoning Debate
Julián Castro, Democratic candidate for president and former secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, chose a side regarding the controversial rezoning proposal making its way through the Des Moines City Council.

'Flash' Bus Rapid Transit Coming to Maryland
The "Flash" bus rapid transit system proposed in Montgomery County, Maryland took a crucial step forward at the end of July.

The Deliberate Segregation of U.S. Cities, as Evidenced by Freeway Congestion
A thorough and damning indictment of 20th century land use and infrastructure planning, and its contemporary legacy of segregation and congestion.

Six Months After Amazon: A Call to Develop in Long Island City
It's been six months since Amazon rescinded its plans to build a second headquarters in New York City. The neighborhood planned for the facility could still see a huge benefit from an ambitious development, according to this opinion.