SCOT LEHIGH proposes adding statues of three US presidents from Massachusetts to the Boston scene (“Boston needs to end the limitation of statues,” Op-ed, July 4). To make room, he proposes removing one: the statue of General Joseph Hooker on the grounds of the State House.
The difficulty is that we have no process for disposing of statues that have outlived their public interest or popularity. Think of the statue of the Polish partisans, which remained on the Common, unwanted, for decades before it was finally moved to a new location in South Boston.
Retiring General Hooker to a city warehouse or tow lot is an excellent idea, which should be followed by other removals. Then it will be time to consider adding statues in Boston.