Now the work begins for California’s newly elected leaders. The realities of governing the state in 2011 are formidable: a massive structural budget deficit, a fragile economy, a host of pressing challenges from climate change to education to water management — and a pervasive distrust in government.

But the convergence of transition and crisis offers a new opportunity for leadership—a chance to break the cycle of fiscal crisis, faulty fixes, and declining faith in government. This is a moment that the state’s newly elected officials can use to engage Californians in an honest discussion of what they want from government, clearly communicate the tradeoffs involved, and confront current crises with a vision of California that goes beyond the next election cycle.

With this opportunity in mind, PPIC recently hosted a high-profile conference in Sacramento focusing on California’s future. In a collaborative and nonpartisan spirit, we brought together a diverse group of local, state, and national leaders for a constructive discussion of the major issues facing our state. Our goal is to build on those conversations to create a statewide dialogue and generate new ideas in the challenging times ahead.

In the next few months, we will publish research findings suggesting what the state can do to encourage job creation. We will also look at promising approaches to transportation, land use, and water policy to ensure a better quality of life for California’s future population. Our statewide surveys will continue to be a real-time resource about the perceptions and policy preferences of Californians.