Title
Urging the federal government to end the U.S. embargo of Cuba.
Body
Whereas, there are many historic connections between the people of Saint Paul and the people of Cuba, beginning in 1898, when Saint Paul's African-American community staged several “Cuba” pageants celebrating Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain in the Spanish-American War; and
Whereas, although much limited by the U.S. embargo, academic, agricultural, governmental and business connections have continued to grow between the State of Minnesota, the City of Saint Paul and Cuba; and
Whereas, a bust of Cuban national hero José Martí has stood in the northern stairwell of City Hall for many decades;
Whereas, in 2008, the Minnesota legislature passed a resolution calling for an end to the embargo against Cuba; and
Whereas in 2014 and 2018, Cuban diplomats visited Saint Paul with the goal of fostering relationships between the city, state and Cuba; and
Whereas, in 2015, Mayor Chris Coleman visited Cuba as part of a delegation that had been planned in his capacity as president of the National League of Cities; and
Whereas, the U.S. embargo against Cuba continues to inflict hardship on the people of Cuba by creating shortages in many areas and costing the Cuban people at least $130 billion according to the United Nations regional economic body for Latin America; and
Whereas, trade between the U.S. and Cuba benefits both countries, particularly in the areas of food production, education, healthcare, tourism, arts, music, biotechnological and medical research; and
Whereas, the overwhelming majority of countries in the United Nations General Assembly have for many years voted in favor of lifting the U.S. embargo against Cuba; and
Whereas, on December 17, 2014, the U.S. and Cuba agreed to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries; and
Whereas, President Trump has ordered new restrictions on business and travel to Cuba, ordered all diplomatic staff withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy in Havana and expelled diplomatic staff from the Cuban Embassy in Washington, DC; and
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that the City of Saint Paul urges President Donald Trump to renew engagement with the Cuban government to create a new cooperative relationship, to reestablish diplomatic staffing of the U.S. Embassy in Havana, to reinstate diplomatic staff at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, DC and to remove barriers preventing Cuban academics and others from visiting the U.S.
Be It Further Resolved that the City Council of the City of Saint Paul urges Congress and the President to immediately end all aspects of the U.S. economic, commercial, and financial embargo against Cuba, including restrictions on travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens.