Former Mayor Miller Given Lifetime Achievement Award

Former Santa Barbara mayor Harriet Miller received a Lifetime Achievement Award by the League of California Cities in part for Miller’s work in locating a skate park at the beach – a huge controversy at the time – as well as for efforts to get the $25 million Granada Garage built as part of a redevelopment effort centerpieced by the restoration of the Granada Theatre itself. During Miller’s mayoral tenure – she served between 1995 and 2005 – Miller enjoyed a reputation or being both charming and tough, or in the worlds of one City Hall admirer, “able to get things done without being persuasive.” Miller, who delivered a brief speech at the Long Beach event, could have mentioned – but did not – her key role in getting new public restrooms built on the 800 block of State Street.