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.

What Planners Need to Know, and Ask, About the American Jobs Plan
The American Planning Association has a breakdown of the massive $2 trillion jobs plan that would change the course of federal infrastructure policy.

Cities as a Climate Change Solution
With the urban exodus hysteria of the early pandemic in the rearview mirror, urban apologists are staking high ground on urban soil.

Ohio Economists: Relax Zoning to Lower Housing Costs
A panel of Ohio economists make the case for more multi-family housing and businesses in single-family neighborhoods.

D.C. Comprehensive Plan Update Needs Equity Improvements, Report Says
The new D.C. Office of Equity has produced an evaluation of proposed changes to the D.C. Comprehensive Plan.

New Rent Debt Dashboard Illustrates the Scope of Debt Risks
With regular updates of rent debt data from around the United States, a new dashboard reveals the depths of one of the most pressing crises of the pandemic.