Boston to take down Citgo sign?

[Jenn! 918]

Boston pol takes aim at Citgo sign after 'devil' comment

September 22, 2006

BOSTON --A city councilor wants to take down the famed Citgo sign in Kenmore Square in response to controversial remarks by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, who called President Bush "the devil."

The Citgo sign has been a Boston landmark for decades, in part because it is so prominently visible over the left-field wall at Fenway Park.

But after Chavez called President Bush "the devil" during a speech Wednesday at the United Nations, Councilor Jerry McDermott said the sign has to go. Citgo is subsidiary of Venezuela's state oil company. McDermott wants replace the sign with an American flag.

"Given the hatred of the United States displayed by dictator Hugo Chavez, it would be more fitting to see an American flag when you drive through Kenmore Square," McDermott told The Boston Herald. "I think people would soon forget the Citgo sign."

Citgo paid $1 million to refurbish the sign last year, said company spokesman David McCollum, who downplayed McDermott's proposed nonbinding resolution.

"We leave the politics to the politicians," he said.

The Red Sox had no comment, but fan Peter Garmley said he'd consider supporting the resolution.

"It's an icon, but I'm a little on the fence, because I think you should invest in what you believe in," said the Natick resident, who said he once climbed the Citgo tower.

An attempt by Citgo to dismantle the sign in the early 1980s was abandoned after strong opposition from the city.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachus...?p1=MEWell_Pos1

[Ban Hammer 12,835]

in case no one has told boston, citgo is changing its name anyways

Edited September 22, 2006 by charlesandnessa

[Jenn! 918]

http://www.redsoxconnection.com/citgo.html

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

When I moved to Boston 12 years ago from Chicago, I decided to play Jonathon Richman's Roadrunner and The Pixies U-Mass in my car as soon as I saw the Citgo sign travelling down the Mass-Pike to herald my arrival in town

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I was born a Mass-hole. Keep the sign.