A salute to Spartacus
I appreciated Robert Price's Jan. 31 column on Milton "Spartacus" Miller ("'Spartacus' issues a verdict on new Padre"). I have fond memories of Miller. I first met him at a City Council meeting back in 1986. He was there to support the Castro area residents in opposing annexation to the city.
I was a new member of the Bakersfield City Council. Some of the other members of the Council and City staff shook in their boots as Miller made his public statement. I chuckled at their reaction to him. I enjoyed and respected his opinion. I never minded his Padre Hotel's "Alamo Tombstone" sign or his missile pointing at Bakersfield City Hall.
We became friends over the years. I came to meet his lovely wife, Lora. After his death, Lora and I worked to remove the sign and missile from the top of the Padre Hotel, but did not gain any traction when a few local and out-of-towners protested.
It all worked out, though. All's well that ends well.
MARK SALVAGGIO
Bakersfield
