Da Mayor Takes a Bow

Outgoing Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum was roundly and soundly thanked, praised, and fêted at a ceremony hosted by the Environmental Defense Center Sunday evening and attended by almost everyone to hold elected office within the South Coast during the past 20 years, the timespan Blum has served S.B. She was first appointed to the city’s Planning Commission, after which she was elected to the City Council, followed by two terms as mayor. City Administrator Jim Armstrong noted that Blum, during her 14 years in office, voted on 14,000 items during the 728 council meetings she attended, 416 of which she chaired as mayor. In that time, he reckoned she was subjected to 1,820 PowerPoint presentations, and listened to 3,500 people comment during public testimony. Armstrong praised Blum for respecting the public process, even when the circumstances proved especially trying. “When the hundredth public speaker on dogs off-leash is about to testify at 11:30 at night,” he said, “maintaining that respect for each individual is an incredible skill.” Blum will be roasted, along with outgoing councilmembers Iya Falcone and Roger Horton, at an event hosted by the Democratic Party this Friday evening. The new mayor and City Council did not meet this Tuesday.