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.
Scrutiny for HUD Secretary Ben Carson's Schedule
Housing and Urban Development Secretary ben Carson has outlasted most of the original Trump cabinet, but maybe it's because he follows his boss's example so well when it comes to scheduling his time.
Zoning Reform Gets Another Try as Massachusetts Wrestles With Housing Crunch
Strong support for local control has made statewide legislation to address the housing affordability crisis difficult to approve in the Bay State.
Where a Freeway Plan Failed, a Development Opportunity Rises
Now that the plans to extend the 710 Freeway in Southern California between Alhambra and Pasadena are finally dead, the question remains about what to do with the state-owned land at either end of the planned route.
Trump Administration Continues to Delay Allocated Transit Funds
The Federal Transit Administration is still holding much of the funding promised by Congress since 2017. It's unlikely that anyone likely to vote for Trump again in 2020 is losing any sleep over money not spent on public transit infrastructure.
L.A.'s Plan for Vermont Ave: BRT in 2024, Rail in 2067
Anyone hoping for rail transit down one of Los Angeles' busiest transit corridors will have to wait awhile.