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.

Ballot Initiative Could Erase Phoenix Light Rail Extension Plans
Anti-light rail activists gathered enough signatures to qualify a controversial measure on the August ballot.

By-Right Approval for Affordable Housing Projects Proposed in San Francisco
San Francisco Mayor London Breed is fighting hard to make it easier to develop affordable housing in the cost-impacted city. A fight will likely be required.

A Millennial Planning Director for D.C.
Andrew Trueblood, 35 years old and just under the threshold of Millennial status, has been nominated to the deal the Washington, D.C. Office of Planning.

The 'Suburban Decline' Narrative Is Overstated
While suburbs are changing, that doesn't mean they are declining, according to recently published research.

State of the Union: Infrastructure Week Is Finally Over
Infrastructure went from playing a major role in the State of the Union address a year ago. This year infrastructure warranted barely even a nod—about 62 words, in fact.