Sister cities should remain a priority

Amy L. Werblin

I was saddened and disappointed to find on the front page of the

Independent the low ranking the Sister Cities Program of Huntington

Beach received in an online survey polled over the past few months.

For most citizens of Huntington Beach, finding that the city has

even created and circulated an online survey is a shock. As for those

who were aware, even as the article points out, the crowd was biased

and unfair, consisting of citizens either involved or interested in

our city’s government. Most of these people do not even know what the

Sister Cities Program is, leaving me to wonder, how does this even

qualify them to rank its importance?

The poll was a misrepresentation of the city’s populace because

so few residents filled it out. It also failed to point out that it

is programs like Sister Cities that makes people want to live in

Huntington Beach. As a participant in this year’s Sister Cities

Program, I know that the cultural enrichment, expansion of thought

and chance to travel are all opportunities people should instill in

their children, instead of eliminate to leave money for helicopters

and bike safety classes.

I recently returned from a trip to Waitakere, New Zealand, one of

Huntington Beach’s two sister cities. My sister is involved in the

other program, which travels to Anjo, Japan this August.

The experience of traveling overseas was beyond what I could have

imagined, and I will always remember and appreciate the friends,

culture, and life I engaged in while there. And traveling during a

time when the United States is so maligned by the international

community, the constant reminder that my actions dictated other

people’s opinions of the United States urged me to be on my best

behavior and represent my country well.

I hope that the online survey doesn’t influence the council so

greatly that they cut the programentirely. I purpose the city might

consider charging $1 for library cards, which would more than pay for

the Sister Cities program.

* AMY L. WERBLIN is a Huntington Beach resident. Top contribute to

“Sounding Off” e-mail us at hbindy@latimes.com or fax us at (714)

965-7174.