City authorizes funds to send Mayor to attend Rikunzentakata dinner

The Crescent City Council authorized up to $750 to send Mayor Blake Inscore to a Rikuzentakata ceremonial dinner hosted by the Consul-General of Japan in San Francisco, April 10.

Dinner guests include California State Senate leader Mike McGuire, 2nd District Congressman Jared Huffman among other invited elected and dignitaries.

The event follows the March 11, 2011 magnitude 9.1 Earthquake that wiped out the Coastal community of Rikuzentakata. Thousands lost their lives in the ensuing Tsunami.

Two years later, a lone boat washed up along the Crescent City shoreline. The boat belonged to a high school in Rikuzentakata. Local students from Del Norte High cleaned and refurbished the “ Kamome” and returned the vessel to Rikuzentakata, Japan. This event prompted a sister-school bond between the two communities.

April 12 and 13, Crescent City will be hosting the 2nd Annual Kamome Festival. The City of Rikunzentakata will be sending a delegation to help commemorate the anniversary.

Not all in attendance at the Council meeting were excited to allocate the funds sending the Mayor to this ceremonial event in San Francisco.

Public Speaker Sam Strait thought the expenditure should be directed to filling potholes on City streets rather than financing politicians “ hobnobbing at a dinner party.” Strait reminded councilors the delegation, absent the Consul-General, would visit Crescent City, within the next 48 hours.

Councilors voted unanimously to send Mayor Inscore to the San Francisco dinner.