San Francisco & Krakow Announce New Sister City Relationship

October 20, 2008--Mayor Gavin Newsom joined Poland's Honorary Consuls in San Francisco, Tad Taube and Christopher Kerosky, in announcing a new sister city relationship between San Francisco and Krakow. The announcement was made at the annual Polonaise Ball that honors the founding of the 1791 Polish Constitution. The San Francisco-Krakow relationship will help foster business, civic and cultural links between the two cities.

"I am pleased that the beautiful, innovative, and destination cities of Krakow and San Francisco are now sister cities," said Mayor Newsom. "The sister city relationship is a wonderful expression of the strong relations between our two magnificent cities. The exchange of cultures and commerce enhance our city's commitment to diversity, while providing a unique and invaluable platform to discuss and trade best practices."

An official signing ceremony between the two cities will be held in Krakow on July 3. The ceremony will include Mayor Jacek Majchrowski of Krakow along with a representative from Mayor Newsom's office and Consuls Taube and Kerosky. The ceremony is open to the public and members of the San Francisco community are invited to travel to Krakow to participate.

"The business and cultural opportunities that will come from this new relationship are too many to count," said Consul Taube, who immigrated to the United States from Krakow just weeks before Germany invaded Poland during World War II. "The economic and cultural revival that has taken place in Poland over the last 20 years is incredible, and San Francisco will now be well positioned to take full advantage of it." Taube currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he serves as chairman and founder of the Woodmont companies and the Taube Philanthropies, and is
president of the Koret Foundation.

Consul Chris Kerosky, a San Francisco attorney of Polish ancestry, has been working with the Polish American community in California for 20 years. "I can not think of two more beautiful cities then San Francisco and Krakow to be joined together in a sister city partnership," said Kerosky. "Each city has much to offer the other in terms of both culture and business. I look forward to seeing the relationship flourishes."

For more information, please contact Consul Kerosky at (415) 777-4445 or ckerosky@polishconsul.com. For those
unable to attend the signing ceremony, Mayor Newsom will hold a reception in San Francisco this fall.