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.

Climate Change and Public Transit
A recent round of thunderstorms brought public transit operations in Philadelphia to a screeching halt.

Development vs. Open Space at a Denver Golf Course
A developer just bought a Denver-area golf course in the hopes of some day rezoning the site for residential and commercial development. Open space advocates have other ideas, as does the city (for now).

After Changes, New Tower Might Not Be Detroit's Tallest Tower After All
A building under construction at the former site of J.L. Hudson's department store in Detroit will no longer reach 900 feet, as once planned.
Augmented Reality and Public Art: A New Era Begins Today
People in six global cities will have a chance to sample an ambitious new augmented reality program launched by Apple today.

Kanye West Lacks Permits for the Prototype Housing Units He Built
Kanye West's first foray into the development business is off to an inauspicious start.