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.

Stop Thinning Underway in St. Louis
Metro Transit recently announced its plans to remove or relocate 450 bus stops systemwide in St. Louis city and county. After adjusting that number to 370 bus stops, the work of consolidating bus stops is underway.

Housing Policy Preemption for Red States
While statewide efforts to loosen zoning restrictions have made news in (mostly) blue states like California and Oregon, (mostly) red states like Florida have been preventing local governments from passing their own housing policies.
Another 'Poor Door' in San Diego
The developers of a large residential development in the Seat Village neighborhood of San Diego is including a large number of apartments affordable to low-income residents, but in a separate building.

After 17 Deaths in 2019, New York Has a New Bike Safety Plan
Vision Zero has tragically failed 17 people on bikes in New York City this year, and Mayor Bill de Blasio couldn't stick with the status quo any longer.

Amtrak Adding Service Between Chicago and Milwaukee
One additional round trip a day will have to do, because adding three new trips proved too many for suburban communities located long the route in Illinois.