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.

Zoning Ordinance Rewrite in the Works in Kentucky City
Covington, a city of over 40,000 located just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, will do a comprehensive rewrite of its Zoning Ordinance.

New York MTA Threatens Service Cuts, Increased Fares
A New York transit advocate says the MTA is entering a "death spiral" of reduced service and higher fares that will lead to fewer riders and then additional reduced service and higher fares.

Big Wins for Urbanism in Cascadia
"Yes we actually did that."

Cincinnati Ponders Changes to Streetcar Operations
The idea of the city taking over streetcar operations is deemed "expensive and time consuming" by a report to the Cincinnati City Council.

Details of Nashville's Deal With Amazon Revealed
Nashville was a surprise benefactor of the Amazon HQ2 announcement earlier this month. Amazon will definitely benefit from the deal as well.