Councilman Pelaez Spearheads Effort to Create Latin American Relationships

Press release from the City of San Antonio:

April 21, 2021

Councilman Pelaez Spearheads Effort to Create Latin American Relationships, Opportunities for Economic Development, Stronger Military Partnerships, and Cultural Exchanges

CONTACT: Erin Nichols, 210-207-2881
Erin.Nichols@sanantonio.gov

SAN ANTONIO (April 21, 2021) — Today, the City Council Governance Committee unanimously voted to advance a measure led by Councilman Pelaez to prompt the City of San Antonio to plan for and pursue relationships with Central and South American cities and leverage San Antonio’s existing cultural, economic, academic, and military ties in the region toward that end. In response to this vote in favor of his proposal, Councilman Pelaez issued the following statement:

“San Antonio can be seen as a city that happens to have a 64% Hispanic population or it can be seen as a Latin American-informed city at its foundation. But either way you cut it, our current lack of relationships, sister cities, and economic partnerships throughout Central and South America does not reflect the rich academic, cultural, and military ties San Antonio shares with the region.

Our city has never formally sought Latin American relationships beyond Mexico, so the vote today is an important and historic first step in initiating the pursuit of these opportunities that are unique to our community and will expand its reach in the Western Hemisphere through meaningful cultural exchanges and robust economic partnerships.

With this proposal now on its way to the Economic and Workforce Development Committee, I would like to thank Mayor Nirenberg and members of the Governance Committee for supporting this proposal, as well as Alex Lopez, the Assistant City Manager who oversees the Economic Development Department, and Sherry Dowlatshahi, the City’s Chief Diplomacy and Protocol Officer, for their integral guidance and support.”

This press release was produced by the City of San Antonio. The views expressed here are the author’s own.