Not only does California ranks dead last in per capita state spending for the arts, its largest city is losing its media art critics. After LA Times dance critic Lewis Segal was bought out last month, news comes that LA Weekly classical critic Alan Rich was given the ax yesterday. Public Relations blogger Laura Stegman has the scoop:

After getting the news earlier today, I spoke with Alan late tonight, and he said, "It's open season on critics. We are an endangered species. I was surprised, but I wasn't surprised." He says the decision was made "by the corporate people in Phoenix," and that when Editor Laurie Ochoa gave him the news over lunch, "she was as sorry as can be."

Also: A candidate forum with Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas is scheduled for this Saturday, April 12th from 10:30am-12:00pm. He is running against LA City Councilman Bernard Parks for the 2nd District seat on the LA County Board of Supervisors which is an arm of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

Photo by Eggybird via Flickr