I would add a few things as being a participant in this process. As some know, I am president of Neighbors Abroad.

First, it was amazing in the 1960s our founders anticipated that the same discovery that happens internationally, could happen domestically. As such our bylaws and charter anticipated domestic sister cities.

Neighbors Abroad saw that our existing programs could align well with the activities anticipated in this new relation to Bloomington. We execute on culture, sustainability, education and commerce across the international cities, and therefore could extend those same programs to this domestic relationship. There was a synergy. However, Bloomington brings in a new "pillar" deemed the "community" pillar that can be promote discovery around topics of equity, race and economic diversity. This pillar can likely be applied into our international relationships as well.

We are blessed with an amazing committee to kick off this upcoming year. Our Rotary, Kiwanis, neighborhoods, chamber of commerce, and Stanford have engaged. We have had youth inspired by this reach out. We are fortunate that Palo Altan Andie Reed has stepped up to lead this. One of the challenges is that these relations are perpetual and multigenerational, and we hope to tune a process that endures.

I will share my own reflection on the selection of Bloomington. It may not be as far a reach in diversity as other potential cities. But, when we are trying our first step into this pond, we balanced with wanting to create and explore with a bit more comfort, and then allow Palo Alto and this program step to bridge to places where the diversity is greater. With Bloomington, we had so many relations to start with - consistent with picking a low hanging fruit. So far so good.

Personally, I have been looking at the bike rides that I might take. It looks fun, and exciting. Nice to have Neighbors Abroad be a contributor to this process. Thank you Weekly for the coverage.

I personally was delighted to read this article and Bob Wenzlau's comment as president of Neighbors Abroad. Both cities face similar issues/have faced similar issues, but they are not the same--the movie "Breaking Away" get the town/gown part, but not the lack of ethnic diversity part(s).

I taught at IU-Bloomington as only the 2d female full professor in her department for 10 years while trying to maintain a relationship (and marriage) in Palo Alto. I learned a lot from my students, the culture, and issues there, and I cannot imagine a better "sister city" in the U.S. for Palo Alto with which to start.

Having a sister city is wonderful for Palo Alto. My mother attended the University in Bloomington. Bloomington is a wonderful mid-western city, in the middle of the country. My only concern regarding city cities is the cost associated with the program. Several large cities have sister cities around the country and world. Palo Alto administrators need to be careful on costs associated with sister this sister city. Cities can certainly work together while keeping travel budgets under control. Some of the other larger cities in the US have had trouble with costs associated with this type of program. Palo Alto needs to remember if your going to have a sister city it should benefit all residents, not just city administrators. Budgets should be set if travelling is involved in the process.

The know-how and experience of Bob Wenzlau and Neighbors Abroad were critical to this proposal and will be key going forward. Palo Alto is lucky to have you.

I look forward to biking through those hills with you, Bob!

Well, at least it's unlikely that there will be an expensive, publicly-funded junket to Bloomington like there was to China with Keene, Kniss, and connected friends.

Symbolic partnerships are great, but perhaps our city government should focus on basics. Like why are utility rates continue to go up with the funds clearly misdirected (that's just one among many).

Friendship and such are the key to a thriving personal life. Amen. But why taxpayers are funding efforts on a 9th sister city is completely beyond me.

Smoke and mirrors to distract from the real issues of the city.

Wouldn't it be more productive to establish a relationship with a red rather than blue leaning town? That would be a thoughtful step towards understanding and working to ease the distressing political divisions in America.

I had few opinions on this topic until I heard the comments last night. One contributor went on a political rag straight out of CNN - now tanking in the ratings. It would have been more positive if the political speech did not happen - it questions what we are doing here. A lot of political assumptions and generalizations about this city which are inappropriate - we are not suppose to be funding political lobbying groups.