Isabela, Chicago sign MOU to strengthen ties

Isabela Mayor Miguel “Ricky” Méndez Pérez, left, signed a memorandum of understanding with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to strengthen ties and share projects of bilateral interest in the tourism, security and recycling sectors.

By THE STAR STAFF

Isabela Mayor Miguel “Ricky” Méndez Pérez was in Chicago this past weekend as a guest of the Puerto Rican diaspora community there, where a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed with Mayor Brandon Johnson in order to strengthen ties and share projects of bilateral interest in the tourism, security, and particularly recycling sectors, where Isabela is a local leader.

“We are very grateful for the welcome we have received. Thanks to the provisions of the Puerto Rico Municipal Code, we can establish agreements like the one we are making with Chicago,” Méndez said. “We are the first city in Puerto Rico to sign [such an accord] with the Windy City. Today we are establishing the framework for generating solutions based on experience and analysis of various public administration issues.”

The agreement will be implemented through various means, including workshops, seminars, public hearings, and technical, legal, and administrative sessions, strictly adhering to all applicable regulations. Over the weekend, the “From Flag to Flag” event, considered Chicago’s most important Puerto Rican cultural festival, was also held at Paseo Boricua (Humboldt Park).

“It’s a recognition of Puerto Rico’s identity, music, food, art, and culture,” Méndez noted. “The name honors the two large steel flags, nearly 60 feet tall, that mark the beginning and end of this section on Division Street, and in the past, it has been dedicated to other municipalities on our island. We are very grateful to the organizers, sponsors, and all the participants.”