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.
D.C. Council Chooses Commercial Property Tax Breaks Over Homeless Funding
Carolyn Gallaher, an associate professor at American University, makes the case for local political leadership to better support Washington, D.C.'s homeless population. The D.C. Council has been focusing its resources elsewhere.
Penalties for Fare Evasion Not a Good Look
Stiff penalties for transit fare evasion have come under fire as a tool of discrimination, and cities have taken notice.
Songs About Places - 2018
The 2018 edition of an annual playlist of songs about places by critically acclaimed and popular bands.
L.A. Adopts Strict Short-Term Rental Regulations
The Los Angeles City Council approved significant new regulation of short-term rentals, available on platforms like Airbnb, earlier this week.
Trump Administration Gives 'Opportunity Zones' a Push Forward
A new controversy about the Trump family's potential to profit from Trump administration policies emerged the same week as news that an executive order was forming a White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.