City Commission to Discuss New Sister City Relationship With Guanajuato, Mexico

The Pasadena Human Relations Commission will hear a presentation about a potential sister city relationship between Pasadena and Guanajuato, Mexico, at the Commission’s upcoming meeting on Tuesday, April 1.

The agenda includes an information item from the Pasadena Sister Cities Committee (PSCC) regarding their October 2024 exploratory visit to Guanajuato and their recommendation to establish a formal sister city relationship.

According to the detailed report prepared by the Sister Cities delegation, Guanajuato offers numerous similarities to Pasadena that would make for a beneficial partnership. Both cities have strong historical significance and are hubs for arts, culture, education, and tourism.

Pasadena has a population of approximately 140,000 residents, while Guanajuato’s population is estimated at around 195,000 as of 2025.

“A Pasadena Sister City relationship with any city in Mexico is long overdue,” notes the report, highlighting that a significant portion of Pasadena’s population has Hispanic/Latino roots, with many tracing their heritage to Mexico.

The delegation’s visit, arranged and led by Sister Cities Commission Chair Renee Gonzalez and which included Committee Vice President Martin Gordon, met with numerous Guanajuato officials during their visit, including Mayor Samantha Smith Gutiérrez, who expressed enthusiasm about establishing ties with Pasadena.

The delegation also attended cultural events, toured historic sites including the UNESCO World Heritage Site city center, and explored potential collaboration with the University of Guanajuato.

The sister city relationship would facilitate cultural exchanges during significant events like Pasadena’s Rose Parade and Guanajuato’s Festival Internacional Cervantino, an annual arts and culture festival described as “Latin America’s most important cultural event.”

Other important agenda items include a welcome to new Commissioner Paul McGee (District 1), an update from Lieutenant Carlo Montiglio of the Pasadena Police Department regarding hate crimes and incidents in Pasadena, a discussion regarding the date of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Commission Annual meeting, and finalizing an online document for community members to report human relations concerns.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Jackie Robinson Community Center, located at 1020 North Fair Oaks Avenue.