By Coral Gables Gazette staff

Coral Gables has long styled itself as an international city, a vision articulated by founder George Merrick even before the City Beautiful was incorporated nearly a century ago. For decades, that ambition has been expressed most clearly through the Sister Cities program, which links Coral Gables with counterparts across Latin America and Europe. The relationships have been framed as bridges of cultural exchange, mutual recognition, and civic goodwill. But as the city’s International Affairs Coordinating Council made clear at its August 18 meeting, some ties have grown dormant — and not every suitor is a fit.

Quito’s quiet exit

The relationship with Quito, Ecuador, established in 1997, has been largely inactive for years. Vice Chair Richard Montes de Oca detailed repeated attempts over the past two years to reengage the Ecuadorian capital, culminating in a May letter advising officials there that Coral Gables had downgraded the city’s status from “active” to “emeritus.” In the parlance of Sister Cities, “emeritus” signals a relationship that exists only on paper, maintained without ill will but devoid of meaningful exchange.

Quito responded on May 30, saying the matter was under review. But Montes de Oca argued that waiting served no purpose, especially since the Coral Gables City Commission had already formalized the change to emeritus status in February. For the council, the symbolic connection no longer reflected reality.

No match in Manta

The discussion on Quito opened the door to another question: whether Coral Gables should replace Quito with another Ecuadorian city. Manta, a Pacific port with a record of outreach to the Gables — including sending representatives to commission meetings — had expressed enthusiasm for a partnership. Yet Montes de Oca questioned whether enthusiasm was enough.

“I don’t really see that it has alignment with the Gables,” he said, pointing to differences in cultural, architectural, and historic identity. “It just doesn’t align.” The council agreed, voting unanimously not to pursue Manta as a Sister City.

New council member Alfonso Cueto, attending his first meetings since being appointed, signaled a broader skepticism. “Just to have a Sister Cities relationship doesn’t mean anything,” he said, pressing for clearer criteria to determine whether these partnerships produce tangible value.

Rethinking what Sister Cities mean

The debate highlighted a larger issue: what Coral Gables expects from its international ties. In past decades, the city has donated fire trucks and other equipment to partner cities. But officials now emphasize reciprocity, wanting to see how such relationships benefit residents at home.

“We need something more meaningful as far as we are concerned,” said Belkys Perez, director of the Economic Development Department. “A mutual benefit where our residents can benefit as well.”

Montes de Oca suggested that rather than expanding, the council should focus on deepening existing ties. “It’s not about signing agreements, it’s about activating them and seeing how we can have cultural or culinary exchanges,” he said.

Currently, Coral Gables maintains six Sister Cities: Aix-en-Provence, France; Cartagena, Colombia; La Antigua, Guatemala; Santa Tecla, El Salvador; San Isidro, Argentina; and Sevilla, Spain. Each has the potential to be more than symbolic, but only if energy and resources are directed toward active exchanges.

Looking ahead

The council also debated its own composition. At present, it has seven seats, with one vacancy. A proposal was floated to increase the number to nine, which could in theory allow for more relationships to be pursued. But with current Chair Olga Ramudo absent, the board deferred action on both membership expansion and officer appointments until her return.

In the meantime, Cueto pressed for more rigor, suggesting that prospective Sister Cities should be asked explicitly what they expect from Coral Gables. His intervention reflected a sentiment that Sister Cities status is not a gift to be handed out freely but a partnership requiring alignment and purpose.

The broader context

The Sister Cities program, conceived nationally in the Eisenhower era, was meant to foster goodwill at the height of the Cold War. In Coral Gables, the initiative has often been used to emphasize the city’s international identity, particularly its links to Latin America and Europe. Yet the conversations on August 18 show how the model is shifting. Symbolism is no longer enough. The council is demanding measurable exchanges, stronger cultural alignment, and clear benefits for local residents.

Ecuador’s double disappointment — losing Quito to emeritus status and seeing Manta rejected outright — underscores that shift. For Coral Gables, the question is less about accumulating names on a list and more about whether these ties still serve the vision Merrick once had: a city that sees itself not only as beautiful, but as meaningfully connected to the wider world.