Lauderhill's Mayor Kaplan and Vice-Mayor Holness Visit To France - February 28 to March 2

Meeting with French Senateur Jacques Pelletier, Former Ministre of France, Mayor of Villers-en-Prayeres (Aisne), President of the High Counsel for International Cooperation

The trip to France continued with stops in Nantes, Marseille and some additional meetings with Paris.

IN NANTES:

The Delegation met with numerous local leaders, including the Adjoint Mayor, Directors of the Regional Art School of Nantes, Cultural Counselor for the region, University Professors from the area and from Jacksonville, Florida, and members of their Chamber. At this meetings, a presentation was given of the history and plans for each of our respective areas. Following this meeting we toured the Isle de Nantes, which is a redevelopment of the abandoned Shipyards, which is being transformed into a restaurant and entertainment district, to be completed in 2007. Part of our group toured an Art Museum, which was formerly a cookie factory.

IN MARSEILLE:

Again, the Delegation met with local and regional leaders, including Adjoint Mayors, Chamber Members, as well as their cultural, art and promotional organizers. We were joined by the US General Consulate for Southern France.

A tour of La Friche - La Belle de Mai was conducted. This is actually 3 facilities in a formerly declining area of their city that formerly housed a tobacco company which closed several years ago. The facilities, which are adjacent to each other, are now a local archive (which is still going through and preserving materials which are available for public research), media center (for several hundred companies), and an artist institute.

Several of us toured the old abandoned Warehouse Facility, which has now been transformed into stores and offices for several hundred companies. These facilities were created through their Chamber of Commerce, which has taxing authority.

FINAL VISITS IN PARIS:

On our final day, Friday, we met with CitesUnies (United Cities), which is the equivalent of our League of Cities, as arranged by Senateur Pelletier earlier in our tour. We were advised about how this organization helps establish relationships with cities, including sister cities.

They explained they are very interested in getting more involved with the United States, and have projects already underway in this area. If we wish it, they would assist in finding a match for Lauderhill, but first we would have to prioritize our interest, and this may take some time to complete. As to their prioritizing, they are prohibited by law to recognize ethnics or minorities, but can look to regional influences. Such prioritizing could lead to arts and cultural exhibit exchanges, student exchanges, etc. These activities have been implemented many times before.

At this point it was noted that the Mayor and Vice-Mayor would bring this information back to the city for discussion and direction. Additional photos will be subsequently posted.