Please join us this Saturday morning, May 2, in San Diego for what should be a fascinating discussion about the ballot measures on the May 19 special election. The event runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the San Diego Hall of Champions. (Sports fans out there would be wise to make it a day of California governance and sports). The event is free, but be sure to reserve yourself a seat by signing up here or here. And you can consider this brunch if you like--there will be food.

The panel is headlined by former Congressman and former state finance director Tom Campbell, who has thought as deeply about the state budget as anyone alive. (He has an interesting discussion on tax reform currently running on his web site).  Also on the panel are Chris Reed of the San Diego Union-Tribune, writer of America's Finest Blog; New America senior scholar Mark Paul; and your blogger. The co-sponsors are New America, the Center for Policy Initiatives, and the City Club of San Diego.

Your blogger has done quite a bit of non-blog work lately on California topics. Here goes.

-On the LA Times and its problems, here's a piece called "The Morgue" (I didn't write the headline--the LA Times isn't going to die) from The New Republic and on the cancellation of the local news section from Fox & Hounds Daily.

-Here are my radio appearances this week on the Los Angeles NPR affiliate's show "Which Way, LA?" on the state's cash crisis and the ballot measures that will be needed to clean it up. Here's Monday's and Tuesday's. Both appearances came near the end of the broadcast.

-And I've become one of the cast of dozens contributing to Politico's In the Arena. The first post is here.