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.

APA Lists Recommendations for State Housing Policy
In attendance this week at the National Conference of State Legislatures, the American Planning Association has announced its intentions to lobby attendees on housing policy.

Scoop: Koch Brothers Connections to Phoenix Anti-Transit Initiative Revealed
New evidence reveals the deep involvement of Koch Industries funding in the Phoenix anti-light rail campaign.

A Utility Pole in the Middle of a Raised, Painted Bike Lane: 'It's Utterly Ridiculous'
You've probably never seen anything like this before, but if you're a bike advocate, it probably still feels familiar.

Debating the End of Single-Family Zoning in Toronto
A retired city planner takes a position against "lot splitting," or allowing more than one unit on properties zones for single-family residential as it's known in Toronto.

Plans Revealed for 'Epic Universe': the Country's First New Theme Park Since 2001
The Universal Epic Universe, proposed for Orlando, Florida, has aspirations as a transit-oriented theme park.