Council authorizes former mayor Blake Enscor to represent Crescent City at U.S.-Japan Sister Cities World Expo

The Crescent City Council voted unanimously Aug. 18 to authorize former council member and mayor Blake Enscor to represent the city at the U.S.-Japan Sister Cities portion of the World Expo in Japan in September 2025.

The authorization, made by motion and second and approved by all members present, gives Enscor the council’s official blessing to attend as a city representative; council members and staff stressed the trip will not require city funding.

City recreation and events director Kelly (last name not provided) introduced the item and described the opportunity. She told the council that Sister Cities International — established in 1956 — and the U.S. State Department had asked sister cities to staff parts of the U.S. pavilion, and that the Crescent City delegation would include local participants who have worked on the town’s sister-city exchanges and disaster-relief programming.

"This is another opportunity that our sister city relationship is bringing to Crescent City," Kelly said. She told the council that about 29 local people are expected to travel as part of the delegation and that the World Expo will be open for six months with millions of visitors expected during that period.

Blake Enscor described the delegation’s planned itinerary and the symbolic role the city’s relationship plays. He said the group will visit Tokyo and then travel north to meeting places in Iwate Prefecture, including sites tied to earlier mutual aid and exchange work, before returning to Osaka for the summit.

"We're not asking for anything from you as far as financial support," Enscor said. "But we would certainly love to have your blessing to say, 'Yes, Blake is here to represent the city of Crescent City.'"

Council members asked about continuity of the sister-city program after Enscor’s planned retirement and whether local fundraising could support delegates. Enscor and staff said the Kamome Foundation will route contributions for travel and that the delegation is providing partial stipends, including a scholarship for a young participant, Haley DeArmond.

Mayor Altman and other council members praised Enscor’s long involvement and approved the motion without discussion of any municipal expenditures. The clerk recorded yes votes from Council member Greenough, Council member Tinkler, Mayor Pro Tem Wright and Mayor Altman.

The council did not authorize any city expenditures for the trip; staff said they will accept and forward voluntary private contributions through the Kamome Foundation and that any future requests for city funding would come back to the council for separate approval.

The council-approved authorization means Enscor will travel with Sister Cities delegates in September 2025. Staff said they will provide follow-up information about travel dates and any local fundraising opportunities.