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.

Overnight Light-Rail Service on the Chopping Block Between the Twin Cities
Since 2014, it's been possible to catch a train every hour between 2 am and 4 am on the Green Line connecting Minneapolis and St. Paul. A proposal under consideration at Metro Transit would end late night service,

Civic Crowdfunding to Mitigate 'Bikelash'
Public outcry about the priority given protected bike lanes on streets can be mitigated when civic crowdfunding is part of the planning process, according to this article.

Eminent Domain Concerns Raised Over Missouri's Hyperloop Plans
Critics are pointing to a discrepancy between the plan and the reality in terms of how much private property must be acquired through eminent domain to make the state of Missouri's Hyperloop dreams come true.

The State of Micromobility
The NACTO Bike Share and Micromobility Initiative yesterday published a bunch of data and infographics to explain the state of shared micromobility, defined as station-based bikeshare, dockless bike share, and scooter share.

New Spending, Planning Approved to Address Affordable Housing Crisis in Columbus
Columbus approved an emergency allotment of capital improvement bond funding for housing, and the launch of an affordable housing strategy process.