Downey, Guadalajara celebrate 50th anniversary as sister cities

Officials from Downey and Guadalajara, Mexico, stand in front of a sign noting the 50th anniversary of the two communities as sister cities during ceremonies in Downey Aug. 19. From left are Betty Monroy, president of the Downey Sister Cities Association; Mayor Pro Tem Luis Marquez, Councilman Mario Guerra and Mayor Anne Bayer, Downey; and Mayor Lorena Jassibe Arriaga de Sandoval, Councilwomen Dulce Roberta Garcia Campos and Maria Cristina Macias Gonzalez and Councilman Roberto Lopez Lara, officials from Guadalajara. (Photo by Arnold Adler)

By WAVE STAFF

Story Created: Aug 20, 2010 at 2:59 PM PST

Story Updated: Aug 20, 2010 at 2:59 PM PST

Tools

DOWNEY — Officials here and from Guadalajara, Mexico, renewed their sister cities agreement in ceremonies at Downey City Hall Thursday marking the 50th anniversary of the initial contract.

Downey was the first city to become a sister city with a community in Mexico Aug. 26, 1960, following the establishment of the People to People program by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956.

Guadalajara became the first Mexican city to joint the program.

Visiting from that city to mark the 50th anniversary were Mayor Lorena Jassibe Arriaga de Sandoval, Councilwomen Dulce Roberta Garcia Campos and Maria Cristina Macias Gonzalez and Councilman Roberto Lopez Lara.

They took part in a formal resigning of the original agreement with Betty Monroy, current president of the Downey Sister Cities Association; and Mayor Anne Bayer, Mayor Pro Tem Luis Marquez and Councilman Mario Guerra.

The visitors arrived in Downey Wednesdayand attended the anniversary ceremony Thursday, followed by a tour of City Hall and the Police Department.

In the afternoon, they had a tour of historic sites in Downey with lunch at one of them — Bob’s Big Boy Broiler. They were guests at a dinner that night at the Rio Hondo Event Center.

On Friday the visitors toured the Columbia Memorial Space Center, followed by a luncheon there.

Other officers of the Downey Sister Cities Association are Robert Rubio, first vice president; Michael Murray, second vice president; Phil Bliss, secretary; and Maria Guerrero, treasurer.

Liaisons are Connie Hernandez and Alda Sichting.

Mary Stauffer, 93, a member of the initial sister cities group, was a guest at Thursday's ceremony.

Since 1960, Downey has also become a sister city with Valle de San Quintin in Baja, California; Ensenada, and Fresnillo Zacatecas, all in Mexico; and Alajuela in Costa Rica.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

Los Angeles Wave and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

On Demand

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.