Despite a stormy relationship between the Bush administration and Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, Milwaukee may soon have a new Sister City relationship with Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.
Alderman Michael McGee Jr., who represents Milwaukee's Sixth District, sent a letter to Chavez last month proposing the formation of a Sister City relationship between Milwaukee and Caracas, a city of 5.1 million in north-central Venezuela.
Ami Neiberger-Miller, communications director for Sister Cities International,said no formal paperwork between Caracas and Milwaukee has yet been filed. Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that seeks to encourage communication among citizens in the international community.
"Fellow revolutionaries"
A spokesman for McGee said the alderman would not make a statement regarding the letter.
In the letter, McGee makes comparisons between impoverished areas of Milwaukee and Caracas and addresses issues of racial tension.
"I am asking for your support and unity as we are both oppressed brethren of the same corrupt system — white supremacy, and European imperialistic hegemony," wrote McGee. "Similar to the oppressed people of Venezuela; Black People have made significant contributions by way of inventions and free slave labor that make Western culture, and imperial expansion the economic success it is today. We must unite and we must be compensated!"
Michael Fleet, professor of political science who is an expert in Latin American politics, said the letter was an interesting development.
It is useful for Chavez to criticize Bush in his political environment, but he will say he loves the American people, according to Fleet. Chavez is outspoken against the current administration, and McGee acknowledged this sentiment in America.
"I am proud to know that The Revolution is still alive and strong … When Mr. Belafonte exclaimed that President George Bush is a terrorist, and that millions of Americans support the Bolivian Revolution, he was not bluffing," McGee wrote.
McGee refers to musician-turned-activist Harry Belafonte, who recently traveled to Venezuela and met with Chavez.
"Chavez is interested in reaching out to oppressed minorities within society," Fleet said. "He will probably be receptive to this overture. What he may fail to realize is that McGee is a fairly fringe player in the city and in the country."
Idea met with skepticism
Bob Bauman, representing Marquette in the Fourth Aldermanic District, said the idea is interesting in principle, but said he was troubled by the wording of the letter.
"The letter that was sent put a damper on a different idea. I do not know if I would have referred to Hugo Chavez as 'fellow revolutionary,'" Bauman said, referring to McGee's salutation in the letter. "On merit it's not a bad idea. It's worth looking into because Caracas is a big, thriving city. Milwaukee has a big Hispanic population, and Caracas obviously does too."
Bauman said he would not call Chavez anti-American, but acknowledged tension and difference of opinions between Venezuela and the United States.
"It's something we do as a fairly regular matter," Bauman said. "Milwaukee has pursued a Sister City relationship with a city in Ireland, and just completed one in China."
Sister Cities supply goodwill
According to Neiberger-Miller, Milwaukee has on record Sister City partnerships with Galway, Ireland; Mulhouse, France; Nuevitas, Cuba; Omsk, Siberia; Parma, Italy; Queenstown, South Africa; Schwerin, Germany; and Ticuantepe, Nicaragua.
Sister Cities International was founded in 1956 by President Eisenhower.
"Our mission is to build relationships between cities and work toward peace," Neiberger-Miller said. "Once a Sister City relationship is forged, (the cities) may outline programs to do together."
Programs cities work on together are focused on four themes: sustainable or economic development which could focus on such things as water quality and business and trade, humanitarian assistance, arts and cultural programs and youth and education.
"Big benefits can come out of the Sister City program," Neiberger-Miller said. "After Hurricane Katrina many Sister Cities abroad made donations to cities hosting evacuees."
The letter sent by McGee is a way to get the ball going and a formality in pursuing a Sister City relationship, according to Neiberger-Miller.
There is no limit on how many Sister Cities one city can have.
"Sometimes they like to have one on every continent," Neiberger-Miller said.