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.

Breaking News: California's Transit Oriented Upzoning Bill Stuck in Limbo
Senate Bill 50, the closely watched upzoning bill proposed by State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), made it a lot further through the Legislature than the prior attempt, SB 827. Still, SB 50 will short of the finish line in 2019.

Changes to the 2019 American Community Survey, Explained
The 2019 American Community Survey includes a notable changes, including a few relevant to planners.

NACTO to Help Five Cities Design and Build Low-Carbon Transportation Infrastructure
Five cities will help the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) prove that urban streets can provide the location for a drastic shift in the carbon emissions status quo.

Vision Zero Proposal Includes Citizen Parking Enforcement
One perhaps overlooked detail of an ambitious Vision Zero bill proposed last week for Washington, D.C.: a provision that would allow ordinary citizens to issue parking tickets.

Watch: Exclusionary Zoning's Affordability Effect, Explained
According to the Sightline Institute, exclusionary zoning is responsible for the nation's ongoing housing affordability crisis.