For those who appreciate good journalism and long for the days when the Santa Barbara News-Press provided that, you might want to check out the new blog on California politics and public affairs jointly published by former News Press executive editor Jerry Roberts.

Roberts is the former San Francisco Chronicle managing editor who was brought into Santa Barbara to reinvigorate the paper -- but then resigned under pressure in 2006 in an event that triggered a mass cleansing of the newsroom, from which the newspaper has never recovered..

Roberts teams with former San Jose Mercury political writer Phil Trounstine, who also served as communications director to Gov. Gray Davis, to publish Calbuzz.

The site appears to be smart and lively, and definitely worth a regular read for those who follow California public affairs.