Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Establishing Sister Cities Relationship
Purpose: Benefit from cultural and economic exchanges
City/State/Country: Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal
Additional Information: Sponsor Council Member Luis A. Quintana
body
WHEREAS, the City of Newark (the “City”), acknowledges the great benefits to all residents from cultural and economic exchanges with other municipalities and towns from around the world; and
WHEREAS, the City has established a Sister Cities Program to facilitate such cultural and economic exchanges; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark has a culturally diverse population, which includes a growing number of immigrants from Vila Nova de Cerveira; and
WHEREAS, Vila Nova de Cerveira, founded by King Denis in 1321, is located on the left bank of the Minho River, which establishes the border with Spain, is rich in ancient culture and art, and today it is mainly known for its international biennial of art which began in 1978; and
WHEREAS, a significant number of immigrants from Vila Nova de Cerveira currently reside in the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Area and desire to work with the City to develop and enhance a link with their homeland; and
WHEREAS, the City feels that is befitting to establish a meaningful relationship with peoples of cities of countries that have proven to be the backbone of Newark’s recent development, such as Portugal, that have moved into the Newark Metropolitan Region bringing with them an extremely rich cultural heritage and economic resources.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Municipal Council on behalf of the people of the City of Newark does hereby extend an invitation to the government and the people of Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal, to participate with Newark as its Sister City for the purpose of creating greater mutual understanding between the peoples of our two (2) communities.
2. The Municipal council hereby ratifies this Resolution to the date of the authorizing Resolution
3. Copies of this Resolution are to be sent to the Governing Body of Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal.
STATEMENT
This Resolution invites the citizens of the Municipality of Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal, to join the City of Newark’s Sister Cities Program.