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.

That's Mixed-Use: Housing on Top of a Bus Yard
San Francisco could try a new trick to help kill two birds with one stone.

Transit Rides Now Free for Kids in Austin
Capital Metro is growing a new generation of public transit riders.

Crime, Cheap Gas, Declining Population: A Cocktail for Decreased Transit Ridership
St. Louis transit planners are evaluating the reasons behind a decline in transit use as the Metro Transit system prepares its first light expansion in years.

Judge Upholds Seattle's Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda, Clears the Way for Upzoning
Since a city judge determined the legality of the long controversial Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda, Seattle has been able to move forward with the plan to allow new density around the city.

Planning Finally Gets a Role in the Ballet
We've seen planning take the Broadway stage and turned into an Oprah, but perhaps the ballet is the most surprising place to see planning ideas on the stage.