Downey, Guadalajara mark 50 years

DOWNEY - Downey city officials and community leaders gathered together with representatives from the city of Guadalajara, Mexico last Thursday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic sister city resolution that was signed by both cities in 1960.With the original resolution showcased nearby as a testament to the remarkable partnership, city officials celebrated the enduring union by highlighting several facets of Downey life that have evolved since the original document was signed. The city of Downey signed the affiliation with Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico on August 26, 1960 as a part of the Downey Sister Cities Program, which began under President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956. With this resolution, Downey became the first city to establish a sister city relationship with a community in Mexico. Guadalajara was the first Mexican city to join the sister cities program. The hour-long ceremony, presided by Mayor Anne Bayer and Mayor Pro Tem Luis Marquez, ended with the signing of a new resolution, marking the 50th anniversary. Councilman Mario Guerra and Betty Monroy, current president of the Downey Sister Cities Association, were also present. Several other officers of the Downey Sister Cities Association were also in attendance including Robert Rubio, first vice president; Michael Murray, second vice president; Phil Bliss, secretary; and Maria Guerrero, treasurer. Representatives from Guadalajara included Mayor Lorena Jassibe Arriaga de Sandoval, Councilman Roberto Lopez Lara, and Councilwomen Dulce Roberta Garcia Campos and Maria Cristina Macias Gonzalez. Following the ceremony, the delegation from Guadalajara received a tour of City Hall and the Police Department. Later, city officials took the Guadalajara council members to Bob's Big Boy Broiler and the Rio Hondo Event Center. Last Friday, the group toured the Columbia Memorial Learning Space Science Center. Presently, Downey has four other sister cities, Valle de San Quintin in Baja, California; Ensenada, and Fresnillo Zacatecas, all in Mexico; and Alajuela in Costa Rica.

********** Published: August 26, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 19