By Louis Zylka
The 830 Time
City council members approved a “sister city” relationship between Del Rio, Texas, and San
Pedro de Las Colonias, Coahuila, Mexico.
The announcement of the cities of San Pedro and Del Rio becoming sister cities was included in
the agenda during the regular council meeting on Nov. 19.
As mentioned in the background information memo written by Michael Garcia, assistant to the
city manager and city grants writer, San Pedro is located in the southern part of the Mexico
state of Coahuila. San Pedro is referred to as the “Cradle of the Mexican Revolution” for being
the home of Francisco I. Madero, the first president of Mexico during the post-revolution era.
On Sept. 6, 2024, Mayor David Ruiz Mejia of San Pedro met with Mayor Al Arreola of Del Rio in
the city of Del Rio Council Chambers to discuss strengthening their relationship as sister cities.
Mejia was also in attendance at the Nov. 19 council meeting to hear the proclamation of Del Rio
and San Pedro becoming sister cities.
Arreola read the proclamation:
“Whereas, the City of San Pedro de las Colonias, Coahuila, Mexico approached the City of Del
Rio about their interest in becoming sister cities due to the cultural, educational, tourism,
economic development ties that San Pedro and Del Rio have, as both cities are part of the
Ports-to Plains Corridor; and
“Whereas, the City of San Pedro de las Colonias is located in the southeast part of the State of
Coahuila, and it has a territorial extension of 9,942.4 square kilometers. San Pedro’s
neighboring municipalities are: Torreón, Francisco I. Madero, and Matamoros. The total
population of San Pedro is 101,041 people: 43,447 in the urban zone and the rest in the rural
zone; being 50.6% women and 49.4% men; and
“Whereas, the town is referred to as the ’cradle of the Mexican Revolution’ because it was the
home of Francisco l. Madero, a key instigator of the Revolution and the first president of the
post-revolution era who served as the 37th President of Mexico; and
“Whereas, on September 6, 2024, Mayor David Ruiz Mejía met with the Mayor of the City of Del
Rio, Texas, Alvaro Arreola, at the City of Del Rio Council Chambers in order to strengthen a
collaboration between the two cities by entering into a sister city that strengthens our rich
cultural roots and tourism; and
“Whereas, the benefits of entering into a sister city relationship would include opening doors for
the promotion of economic and commercial development to attract new investments for both
cities and create more jobs, expand the markets for the commercialization of local products to
help merchants and entrepreneurs, educational, cultural and sports development through
exchanges of activities, tourism development by promoting the historical wealth of San Pedro
and promoting ecotourism, promote educational programs, and promote gastronomy and
collaborate in the promotion of tourism in the municipalities; and
“Whereas, the City Council of the City of Del Rio, Texas desires Mayor to take steps to
establish a sister city relationship with the Municipality of San Pedro de las Colonias, Coahuila,
Mexico.
“Now, Therefore, I, Alvaro Arreola, Mayor of the City of Del Rio, Texas, do hereby proclaim
December 10, 2024, in Del Rio, Texas as: ‘Sister Cities Day with San Pedro de Las Colonias.’
After the proclamation, Mejia and Arreola posed for a picture with the proclamation in front of
the council.
Mejia then said a few words in Spanish, and Garcia translated.
“It is a pleasure for me to be representing my city. I am thankful for this opportunity for this
sisterhood agreement. I know the value of what this represents for this community, especially
with all the benefits the mayor said in the proclamation,” Mejia said.
Mejia also mentioned both San Pedro and Del Rio were founded in the same year, and it was
an honor for him to be at the meeting to create the sister relationship between the two cities.
Mejia also mentioned he is finishing his term as mayor on Dec. 31, 2024, adding that he was
proud to initiate the sister bond between Del Rio and San Pedro.
Mejia finished his comments by wishing the council members a
“Merry Christmas” and a “Happy
New Year.” Arreola thanked Mejia for being at the meeting.
