US-Cuba Sister Cities Association
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New Sister Cities, 8/15/00
by Lisa Valanti

Two days after the celebration of the 485th anniversary of the founding of the City of Santiago de Cuba, the mayors of the cities of Oakland, California  and Santiago formally signed a Sister Cities pact.

This event occurred despite roadblocks created by the State and Treasury Departments. Oakland Mayor and former California Governor Jerry Brown after two failed attempts, at the last minute received a cultural license to go to
Cuba, with an explicit warning (which he disregarded) that he not sign any binding agreement.

The formal proclamation read by Brown states:

"On this day, the 27th of July in the year 2000,
Dismayed by growing injustice, mindless armaments, assaults on nature and the flood of useful things which make people ever more useless, and

Certain of the beauty of hospitality and the good that comes from strangers receiving one another, and

Considering that Oakland has established Sister City relations with cities in the People´s Republic of China, Japan, Russia and Ghana and

Considering that Santiago de Cuba has established Sister City relations with cities in Argentina, Mexico, Spain and Italy, and

Whereas Oakland and Santiago de Cuba share many similarities including world renowned artists and musicians and a magnificent bay where mountains meet the ocean, and

Whereas the elected Council of Oakland passed a resolution on May 5, 1998, encouraging people-to-people diplomacy with the citizens of Santiago de Cuba, and calling upon the United States Congress and President Clinton to
end sanctions and move swiftly to normalize relations with Cuba,

Be it resolved that the Mayor of Oakland, California and the President of the Municipal Assembly of Santiago de Cuba declare that their respective cities will accept each other as Sister Cities in the following ways:

--Foster people.to.people exchanges involving teachers, scholars, scientists, musicians, painters, dancers, poets, philosophers, athletes and those interested in urban agriculture.

--Take the necessary steps to hasten the day when our two countries will enjoy the full benefits that our close proximity calls for."

Oakland-Santiago de Cuba, is the latest member of the growing number of US-Cuba Sister Cities, organizing nationwide under the facilitation of the US-Cuba Sister Cities Association. Other official US-Cuba Sister City pairings are:

Mobile, Al.- Havana, Cuba
Madison, WI.- Camaguey, Cuba
Pittsburgh, PA.- Matanzas, Cuba
Bloomington, IN.- Santa Clara, Cuba
Richmond, CA.- Regla, Cuba
Oakland, CA.- Santiago de Cuba

Expecting to twin by year's end are St. Augustine, Fl. which is "engaged " to   Baracoa, Cuba, and Philadelphia, Pa. is likewise "intended" for Cardenas,   Cuba.

Other cities soon to follow are: Seattle, Tacoma, West Hollywood, Baltimore and Brunswick, Maine.

Los Angeles, San Diego, Hayward, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, Racine, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Fitzgerald, Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa, Youngstown, Alexandria, Washington, DC, Silver City, Dallas, Belzoni, Mississippi and Kansas are a few other places that come (quickly) to mind where committees are working towards sintering relationships.

US-Cuba Sister Cities Association works with Cuban counterparts to help cities identify potential partners, and advises people how to overcome, or overlook all the nonsense that impedes these genuine grassroots, people-to-people community initiatives.

For more information, please contact President, Lisa Valanti at:
USCSCA@aol.com or www.USCSCA.org/

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