Boston’s woke Democratic mayor Michelle Wu is slammed as ‘tone-deaf’ and ‘unserious’ for plan to give children as young as 11 and the undocumented new voting powers

Boston’s woke Democratic mayor, Michelle Wu, has been labeled “tone deaf” and “not serious” over her plan to give young children and undocumented citizens the power to vote on the city’s budget.

During a City Council committee hearing on Tuesday reviewing her 2025 budget, Wu announced that the new budget voting process is open to undocumented immigrants and children ages 11 and older.

After the meeting, an angry Boston City Councilman Ed Flynn wrote a letter to Renato Castelo, the director of the Office of Participatory Budgeting, expressing his concerns about Wu’s decision.

“Allowing children to decide on the use of taxpayer dollars would do the exact opposite and would be viewed by my constituents as tone-deaf, unserious and completely inappropriate,” Flynn wrote in the letter, reviewed by the Boston Herald.

‘At this time of great fiscal uncertainty – with a study warning that remote work policies and declining commercial real estate values ​​in the city could cost us $500 million in revenue annually, as well as a subsequent proposal to include commercial real estate good at a higher rate – more than ever, it is critical that we show Boston taxpayers that we take our financial responsibilities seriously,” Flynn added.

Although participatory budgeting, in which community members decide how to allocate money for a government budget, was adopted in 2021, for the first time residents will have a say in how the Massachusetts city spends their money.

Starting in July, the Office of Participatory Budgeting will begin collecting community project ideas from residents.

In late September, Wu will choose the top 15 community proposals before the public votes and personally narrow them down to five options in January.

During the hearing, city officials said the five chosen projects will be earmarked in the FY 26 budget. Boston’s mayor has already allocated $2 million for the first phase of the process.

Chief Financial Officer Ashley Groffenberger told the Boston Herald that the office originally started the fiscal year with about $4 million, but that due to funds transferred from the last two budget cycles, some of the money was spent on “operational expenses.” , including staff salaries.

Groffenberger added that the government plans to raise $2 million for the participatory budget plans.

Other council members were curious, asking if there were plans to increase the annual project financing budget in coming years, as multiple community groups requested Wu allocate one percent of the budget – about $40 million – to the participatory budget plan.

In response, both Castelo and Groffenberger said the decision will be made by the mayor and city council, adding that they think $2 million is an appropriate amount to start with each year.

Along with Flynn, council members Erin Murphy and John FitzGerald expressed concerns about Wu’s recent decision.

FitzGerald said that with the new plan, residents will have more control over budgetary powers than Council.

Flynn is pushing to reduce the participatory budget allocation for the fiscal year by $1.2 million.

The city council instead wants to invest in the Boston Police Crime Lab so they can hire more staff to help with the lab’s stack of sexual assault testing.

He also wants to free up money for the city’s Inspection Services Department to help improve pest control inspections.

While many disagree with Wu’s latest plan, other council members agreed with her decision, hoping it would lead to more youth participation and civic engagement.

Councilor Liz Breadon said: ‘I really think this is a huge opportunity to develop community involvement.’

“I really hope this will lead to a more engaged citizenry in the future,” she said, adding that it would give children and residents the opportunity to learn to vote.

Wu, who has been mayor of Boston since November 2021, recently announced that she was looking for some of the most basic crimes to be completely off limits for prosecution.

She argued that charges such as shoplifting and disorderly conduct should be beyond prosecutors’ reach, as well as other serious crimes including receiving stolen property and driving with a suspended license.

But Wu’s progressive outlook goes even further: The 39-year-old seems comfortable allowing offenders who commit “quality of life” crimes to go free.

These include burglary of property, wanton and malicious destruction of property, underage possession of alcohol and drugs, including the distribution of marijuana and non-marijuana varieties.

Those who commit such violent crimes would receive something more than a slap on the wrist.

The violations are all on a ‘do not follow’ list which was created by former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins.

Rollins, who later joined the Biden administration but resigned over ethics violations, had argued for the non-prosecution of low-level crimes.

In a 2021 Boston Mayor Candidate Questionnairefrom Progressive Massachusetts, a nonprofit that tracks and ranks how progressive elected officials are, Wu was asked if she supported Rollins’ list.

“Do you support the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office’s do-not-prosecute list and its comprehensive approach to dealing with such low-level violations? YES NO?’ Progressive Mass asked in its survey.

“Yes,” Wu replied.

When asked if she supported closing the Boston Police Department’s gang database, Wu again said yes.

As mayor, Wu, the city’s first female and first Asian American to take on the role, has pledged to reallocate police funding to other city priorities. He believes in demilitarizing law enforcement and combating the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and attack dogs. .