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.
Cash-Strapped Wyoming Towns Face Existential Threat
With the decline of the fossil fuel industry and the economic effects of COVID-19 further gutting the state, Wyoming and some of its small cities are facing dire fiscal consequences.
Progressives Tally Major Victories at the Local Level as the Blue Wave Came Up Short
Progressive agendas on transportation and housing won big in the November 2020, even if a "Blue Wave" failed to materialize on the national level.
Mexico Amends Constitution to Declare Safe Mobility a Human Right
Mexico recently ratified an amendment to its constitution to make safe mobility a human right. The amendment comes in response to unsafe conditions on the country's streets, roads, and highways.
Ford Wants to Be First in the Affordable Electric Vehicle Market
The latest wave of popular electric vehicles, think Teslas and GMC Hummer EVs, are well outside of the price range of normal, thrifty Americans. Ford wants to change that.
Cities Have Doubled in Size Globally in the Last 20 Years, Study Says
New research from China finds an incredible rate of urban expansion in North America and China.