Center, holding proclamations are Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton and Posoltega Mayor Lilliam Mayorga, along with representatives of the City of Bloomington and local Posoltega residents. Posoltega, Nicaragua is a Sister City of Bloomington, Indiana.
(From the City of Bloomington)
Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton says it cost about $12,000 for him and other city employees to make two recent trips abroad.
Hamilton and four others flew to Posoltega, Nicaragua in late October and to Santa Clara, Cuba in early November as part of the national Sister Cities program.
The national program is meant to promote diplomacy and cultural exchange between countries.
What was the purpose of the trip?
Hamilton said the trip was useful in that it keeps bridges between the communities open.
“I think we're making the world a little better place, a little more peaceful, a little better understanding when we do these trips,” he said.
Bloomington’s became a sister city of Posoltega in 1988, and of Santa Clara in 1999.
Bloomington residents have made several humanitarian visits to both cities since then, but a sitting mayor never has, according to Hamilton.
“Part of this is supporting our residents who do so much,” Hamilton said. “I just felt it was helpful and supportive for all of our residents — who do so much to make these connections happen — to support them.”
The visits were first international trips as Mayor. He previously visited Palo Alto, Calif., a domestic sister city of Bloomington.
Hamilton’s final term as mayor ends next month.
Who traveled with Hamilton?
Of the five who traveled, four are city employees. They included Hamilton, Chief of Staff Josefa Madrigal, Latino Outreach Coordinator Ximena Martinez, and City of Bloomington Utilities Assistant Director of Operations Hector Ortiz Sanchez.
The fifth, Francisco Gomez-Scifres, is a native of Posoltega who now lives in Indiana. His trip was funded by the nonprofit Bloomington-Posoltega Committee.
It cost about $3,000 to send each city employee, according to Hamilton. The trips were funded through departmental travel budgets. Members of CUBAmistad, a group of Bloomington residents with diplomatic roles in Cuba, also attended. Their trips were paid for through private funding sources.
What happened on the trip?
City employees were in Nicaragua from Oct. 28 to 31. There, they met with Posoltega’s mayor and attended a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of a devastating mudslide caused by Hurricane Mitch, according to a city news release.
The group made additional visits to water facilities, a house built in part by Bloomington volunteers, and a pantry known as El Comedor Infantil, or “The Children’s Cafateria.”
In Cuba from Nov. 1 to 4, the group met with CUBAmistad members, Santa Clara government officials and the provincial governor to discuss strengthening ties with Bloomington, according to the release.
While there, the group visited arts, history and cultural centers as well as a local university, a neighborhood organization meeting and a local radio station.
What do others think about the trips?
The announcement of the trips late last week was met by criticism from some residents and local officials.
Council member Susan Sandberg questioned what value the trips have to Bloomington residents.
Sandberg declined a recorded interview, saying she doesn’t have deep knowledge of the trips.
She said she is instead focused on other issues, such as relocating the Bloomington Police Department to the former Showers Brothers factory, now city hall. She, other council members and the local police union oppose the plan.
Council president Sue Sgambelluri said the trips were planned exclusively by the mayor’s office.
“With the funding coming from the mayor’s budget, (the) council is not necessarily consulted,” Sgambelluri said. “I don’t remember (having) any indication that we talked about international travels.”
Travel budgets for the mayor’s office and other city departments are approved during annual budget meetings. It is up to each department to determine how to use those funds.
Although no city council members attended either trip, Hamilton said his administration invited them to do so.
Hamilton has defended the trips as an investment in the City’s outreach efforts.
“Critics will say what they say, but we worked our tails off,” Hamilton said. “I think having the mayor of Bloomington show up was significant, and I think the residents who have been going back and forth over the years (are) just glad to have a mayor go.” Hamilton said he hopes mayor-elect Kerry Thomson will go as well after she takes office.
He also said he still has much left to do before the next administration takes over.
“There are a lot of projects going on, and we’re working, of course with the transition to make sure that handoff is smooth and can keep working,” Hamilton said. Hamilton cited construction in the Trades District and a possible new utilities and public works facility as two projects he’s focused on.
“Some things won’t get decided for sure that I’d like. You don’t leave with an empty inbox, but you leave; and I’ll be leaving proud of a lot of good stuff we’ve done together.
