International politics that seemed to be moving towards more accommodation with Cuba hit home in Richmond as the obscure U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control put the kibosh on a long-planned visit by a Richmond delegation to Richmond”s Sister City, Regla, Cuba. Click here for Mayor McLaughlin”s press release on the subject.

Mayor McLaughlin subsequently met with Congressman Miller”s district director, who reportedly is sympathetic tto he delegation”s disappointment and concerns about the license denial and wants to help. Apparently, the decision can be appealed.

The last time a Richmond delegation visited Regla was in 1999, led by then Mayor Irma Anderson.