On Friday, March 19, Peekskill Mayor Andre Rainey and Pedro Palacios Ullauri, mayor of the city of Cuenca in Ecuador, signed a new sister-city agreement. The ceremony, which was open to the public virtually marked the first such agreement between a Westchester County municipality and a non-European city.
The sister-city partnership recognizes the significance and necessity for global interaction, as well as the interest in deepening the ties of friendship and cooperation that unite both Peekskill and Cuenca. The cities intend to develop mutual cooperative activities that stem from the history they share. Cuenca-born residents in Peekskill are sizable as is the community of North Americans living in Cuenca.
“I encourage any Peekskill group with an interest in connecting with similar groups in Cuenca, whether for educational, cultural or business purposes, to get involved in this project,” said Rainey. “I thank the volunteers for their leadership, especially Luis Coronel, president of the Peekskill and Cuenca Sister Cities Corp.”
Located in the province of Azuay in the Republic of Ecuador, Cuenca is situated in the Andes mountains. Similar to Peekskill, Cuenca is known for its waterfront and local artisans.
The new partnership will be led by the Peekskill and Cuenca Sister Cities Corp., an association of local businesses and leaders, who will plan events and programs for both locations.
