Boston and Glasgow have officially become sister cities, with Mayor Michelle Wu embracing the playful traffic cone tradition associated with the Scottish city. Mayor Wu signed a letter of intent at The Haven, Boston's only dedicated Scottish bar, which served as the unofficial Tartan Army headquarters during the tournament. A formal agreement will follow next April during Tartan Week.
Traffic Cone Tradition Embraced
Mayor Wu admitted she placed a traffic cone on a statue of Bill Russell outside City Hall, mimicking the iconic tradition in Glasgow where a cone is often placed on the statue of the Duke of Wellington outside the Gallery of Modern Art. Since the late 1980s, a cone has adorned the statue's head and is persistently replaced whenever removed.
"I think we may see some lingering traditions from their visit, and I have to admit I also put a cone on Bill Russell's head outside today," Mayor Wu said. "It's been fun. I mean, the cones are pretty fun." She added: "I think that it's such a sense of playful, joyful surprise when you can see that happening."
Praise for the Tartan Army
Mayor Wu praised the Tartan Army for bringing positive energy to Boston and for their cleanliness. "No Scotland, no party' has been absolutely stuck in my head all the time," she said. "I think one other bit of incredible feedback that I've gotten is that in space after space, where the Tartan Army has occupied, whether it is the fan march or other spaces, they're cleaning up after themselves completely."
She added: "They're gathering all the litter, putting it away when the trash cans are overflowed, putting it in a little pile next to the trash cans. It's a mayor's dream, really."
Formal Agreement in April
Mayor Wu signed the letter of intent on Thursday, and a formal agreement will be signed next April during Tartan Week. She called First Minister John Swinney a "lovely leader" and said it was an "honour" to welcome him into Boston's City Hall. The two discussed shared history and heritage, as well as a commitment to tackling hunger and poverty, especially for children.
"There were a lot of shared values there, and a lot of places where we'll look to work together," Mayor Wu said.
