FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mark Reeder
July 17, 2015 (916) 651-4034
Senator Janet Nguyen Confirms There is No Sister City Relationship
Between the City of Sacramento and Ho Chi Minh City
(Santa Ana, CA) After days of rumors surrounding the alleged establishment of a Sister City Relationship between the City of Sacramento and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Senator Janet Nguyen is dispelling all rumors by providing evidence that there is no such relationship.
"Given the impact to the Vietnamese-American community and our efforts to improve human rights in Vietnam, I felt compelled to take further action by inquiring about the validity of the claims surrounding the formation of a Sister City relationship between Sacramento and Ho Chi Minh City," said Senator Janet Nguyen.
The misunderstanding regarding the alleged establishment of a Sister City Relationship stems from a meeting that took place at the University of California, Davis. At the meeting, the Ho Chi Minh City Delegation met with Sacramento Vice Mayor Allen Warren and representatives of the Sister City Association. According to the Sacramento City Manager's office Sister City Association is independent organization that is not affiliated with the City of Sacramento and has no authority to bind the City.
During the meeting, Starr Hurley, a representative of Sister City Association and Nguyen Vu Tu, the Director-General of the Department of External Relations-Ho Chi Minh City, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that seeks to strengthen ties between both cities but does not establish a Sister City relationship with the City of Sacramento.
According to information gathered by Senator Nguyen's office, the original Memorandum of Understanding listed Sacramento Vice Mayor Allen Warren and the Vice Chairman For the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City as the signees. However, following the vocal opposition of Senator Nguyen and community protests outside of Sacramento City Hall, the City of Sacramento canceled its recognition of the Ho Chi Minh City delegation and the original Memorandum of Understanding was not signed.
Even after the successfully derailing of the City of Sacramento's official recognition of the delegation, Senator Nguyen is extremely disappointed that Sister City Association signed an agreement with the Ho Chi Minh City representatives to explore ways to strengthen ties between Sacramento and Ho Chi Minh City.
"Yesterday, I had the opportunity to relay my displeasure to Ms. Hurley, who signed the agreement with the Ho Chi Minh City delegation, and she fully understands that the Vietnamese-American community of California does not support her signing of the document. However, I also want the public to rest assured that this is not an official Sister City relationship with the City of Sacramento. If the City of Sacramento seeks to establish an official relationship with any Vietnamese City in the future, we will continue to fight," said Senator Janet Nguyen.
To further clarify that there is no Sister City relationship, Senator Nguyen also reached out to officials of the City of Sacramento, including the office of Mayor Kevin Johnson and the Sacramento City Manager's office. Both offices confirmed that there is currently no Sister City relationship between Sacramento and Ho Chi Minh City.
"I also want to thank the representatives of Sacramento, Senator Richard Pan and Assemblyman Kevin McCarty for helping us coordinate with the City of Sacramento to clarify this issue," said Senator Janet Nguyen.
Below are the documents evidencing that there is no Sister City relationship. In order for the City of Sacramento to establish a relationship with Ho Chi Minh City, it would need to be approved by the Sacramento City Council.
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