Dallas Council Member Travels to Japan on Taxpayer Funds for Sister City Speech

Dallas City Council Member Travels to Japan for Sister City Conference

Dallas City Council member Adam Bazaldua recently returned to Japan to speak at a sister city conference, according to public records. This trip comes just under a year after he and other council members traveled to the country to experience the high-speed bullet train system. The current journey is partially funded by public money from federal grants that were originally intended for "rebuilding international business and tourism."

Bazaldua participated in the 2025 U.S.-Japan Sister Cities Summit on Tuesday. His panel discussion was titled "Helping Through Heartbreak: Supporting your Sister City During a Tragic Event." Sendai, Japan, one of Dallas' nine sister cities, has a long history of collaboration with the city. Following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011, Dallas residents played a significant role in supporting the recovery efforts.

In a statement to WFAA, Bazaldua mentioned that he also visited Sendai and met with the city's vice-mayor. He emphasized the importance of sister city relationships, stating, "Dallas is an international city and sister city relationships are a crucial part of our international engagement. I am honored to be able to represent the city this week and share more about this relationship and the incredible ways Dallas residents responded in the wake of a terrible tragedy."

WFAA has submitted a public information request to obtain details about the expenses related to Bazaldua’s trip. The Sister Cities International conference took place in Izumisano, Japan, located approximately 300 miles southwest of Tokyo.

Political science professor Cal Jillson from SMU expressed concerns about the perception of such trips. "To the average citizen, this can easily look like a boondoggle," he said. While acknowledging that sister city relationships do have benefits, he noted that these advantages often take time to materialize.

Bazaldua was among four City Council members who traveled to Japan in early November 2024 to explore the country's high-speed rail system. This visit was part of preparations for Dallas considering a similar train system in Texas. However, the Texas bullet train plans are currently on hold, and the city-funded trip became a point of contention for political activists critical of city spending.

Earlier this summer, Mayor Eric Johnson traveled to Tanzania to sign a new sister city agreement with Dar es Salaam. His trip, which cost over $40,000, included luxury accommodations and business class travel. Approximately $13,000 of the mayor's expenses were reimbursed by the Dallas International Fund, a private donor-supported initiative managed by the Dallas Foundation.

Bazaldua's latest trip to Japan coincides with the City Council's upcoming final vote on the city's proposed $5.2 billion budget. The budget includes plans to cut funding for community pools, re-allocate more than 200 positions, and close a library due to a multi-million dollar deficit. Council members have approved amendments to keep the library open, and they can continue to propose changes during discussions before the vote.

Mayor Johnson has encouraged his colleagues to suggest savings measures that could reduce taxes. Bazaldua will not return to Dallas in time for the budget vote and plans to participate in the City Council meeting virtually.