Cambridge Officials Vote to Adopt Puerto Rican Sister Cities

CAMBRIDGE, MA - Cambridge City Councilors on Monday unanimously voted to pass a new policy order which would establish a Sister City partnership with the cities of Coamo, Orocovis, Salinas, and Jayuya in Puerto Rico.

The order, written by Former Vice Mayor Dennis Benzan and resident Melissa Colon, will allow Cambridge to "strategically increase opportunities and pathways for collaboration and aid to these municipalities that have such deep ties to the city."

Spokesperson for Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons, Neal Alpert said the Mayor, the City Manager, former Vice Mayor Benzan, and several City staffers will soon meet to discuss who will be responsible for reaching out to the cities that Cambridge is looking to work with.

(Subscribe to Cambridge Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.)

Cambridge officials on Monday raised the Puerto Rican flag at City Hall / Courtesy Photo by Neal Alpert for the Mayor's Office.

"They will also be looking at options about how to determine what form our assistance will look like," he said.

On Monday afternoon, prior to the Cambridge City Council meeting, a few dozens of residents gathered at City Hall as Simmons addressed the need to help Puerto Rico. She was joined by Benzan, School Committee members Patty Nolan, Emily Dexter, Fred Fantini, Katherine Kelly and City Councilors Tim Toomey and Jan Devereux.

"This is the first step of towards a sustained relief effort," she said. "I want to thank Dennis and all of you who have aided in this tremendous effort."

Vice Mayor Marc McGovern, a co-sponsor of the policy order alongside Mayor Simmons, said the order underlined the inefficiency and lack of planning by the federal administration in regards to Puerto Rico.

"Once again, here we are as a local government having to take action because of the ineffectiveness of the President," he said. "It's not the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last."

McGovern said the order would allow for Cambridge to support the selected cities and establish a relationship with them.

"There's a process to this and it doesn't happen overnight, but this will bring attention to the issue and hopefully streamline support to Puerto Rico," he said. "Some of that maybe trying to raise funds but certainly looking at how we can offer supplies as well."

Elizabeth Rosa-Cologne is Puerto Rican and grew up in Cambridge and heard about the gathering on Facebook.

"Much of my family is OK, but we have cousin we haven't heard from and an uncle that died," she said.

Rosa said she was proud to hear that the policy order was under consideration.

"I'm from Cambridge so it means a lot," she said. "Puerto Rico is in a state of crisis and it's important to see the city doing something."

A small crowd gathered in front of Cambridge City Hall on Monday / Photo by Dana Forsythe

Nicole dePaz is a pediatric resident physician at MGH and a Cambridge resident stopped by the rally to voice her support.

"My dad is from actually from Jayuya, which has been selected by this sister city policy," she said. "It's a mountain town and it's one of the towns that's been hit pretty hard."

dePaz said she hopes the policy order will help speed up the delivery of aid to the inner parts of Puerto Rico.

Courtesy Photo by Neal Alpert for Mayor Denise Simmons Office.