JOCOTEPEC, Mexico — Watsonville Mayor Lowell Hurst and Councilman Felipe Hernandez signed a sister city agreement between the City of Watsonville and the Municipality of Jocotepec during a visit to Jocotepec on Sept. 15, finalizing the sisterhood relationship.
The sister city delegation also included Watsonville’s Jocotepec Committee President Tony Navarro and committee member Ignacio Valencia. Hurst met with President Hector Manuel Haro Perez to sign the agreement, which established a cooperative relationship between the two local governments to further economic and youth development, cultural activities and more.
“Jocotepec along with its township of San Pedro Tesistan have played an important role in building the diverse, inclusive and thriving Watsonville that we live in today,” Hurst said at the event at Jocotepec Plaza. “I am proud that Jocotepec will be a sister city agreement that we share a similar economic industry and will work hard to ensure we can build diverse, prosperous and stronger communities together.”
Watsonville is home to a large population from Jocotepec and its townships, including many business owners, families, leaders and artists.
The agreement is aimed at establishing a partnership between the City of Watsonville and the Municipality of Jocotepec and its townships for the purpose of exchanging culture, technology and commerce. It will also promote program development to share cultural experiences, athletics, direct youth toward positive growth and more.
“Kawakami has been a great example of a model sister city, their longevity and hard work for over 30 years inspires our committee,” Hernandez said.
A sister city is a broad-based, long-term partnership between two communities in two countries. A relationship is officially recognized after the highest elected or appointed official from both communities sign off on an agreement to become sister cities. A city may have any number of sister cities, with community involvement ranging from a half dozen to hundreds of volunteers.
The Sept. 15 signing was set the day before Mexico’s Independence Day.
“The culmination of 10 years ended joyously with the signing by the president of Jocotepec and our mayor from Watsonvile,” Navarro said.
Anyone interested in joining the Sister City Jocotepec-San Pedro Tesistan is asked to contact Navarro at 707-4392.
