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.

Middle-Income Density Bonus Working Toward Approval in San Diego
The San Diego City Council's Land Use and Housing Commission approved a density bonus program to provide incentives for developers to build middle- and low-income housing.

A New Bicycle Master Plan for Arlington County
Arlington County planning staff have worked on a new bicycle master plan for the past two years. The Arlington County Board will consider the new plan this week.

Minneapolis Affordable Housing Practices Heading in a New Direction
Minneapolis is realigning its affordable housing practices as the nationwide as the pressures of the housing affordability crisis increase.

The Case for Wildlife Crossings
If wildlife crossings seem to expensive to build with so many infrastructure needs around the country, consider the cost of not building safe passage for animals.

A Company of Scooter Vigilantes Sparks a Lawsuit
A lawsuit by Bird and Lime against the company Scooter Removal highlights the difficult challenges required to reconcile the private interests of new mobility companies with the access to the public realm on which they depend.