Boston’s first Asian American mayor, Michelle Wu, is facing criticism after an email inviting only minority city councilors to a holiday party was mistakenly sent to all council members, including those who are White. The incident has sparked debates on inclusivity and unity in the city’s leadership.
The controversy unfolded when an email from Wu’s aide, Denise DosSantos, invited councilors and their guests to the “Electeds of Color Holiday Party.” The email was sent to all city councilors, leading to confusion and discontent among the seven White council members who received it.
Within fifteen minutes of the email’s circulation, DosSantos issued an apology, acknowledging the mistake. “I wanted to apologize for my previous email regarding a Holiday Party for tomorrow,” she wrote. “I did send that to everyone by accident, and I apologize if my email may have offended or came across as so. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.”
The apology, however, did little to quell the discontent among council members. Outgoing City Councilor Frank Baker, a White representative, described the exclusion of certain members as “unfortunate and divisive.” Despite not speculating on the mayor’s motives, Baker criticized the decision as ill-timed, given existing tensions within the City Council.
“I find it unfortunate that with the temperature the way it is, that we would further division,” Baker expressed. “To offend me, you’re going to have to do much more than not invite me to a party.”
In contrast, Black City Councilor Brian Worrell defended the invitation, asserting that the holiday party aimed to represent “all kinds of special groups” within the Boston government. Worrell emphasized that the Elected Officials of Color group had been organizing similar events for over a decade and highlighted DosSantos’s lack of malicious intent.
However, five-term Boston City Councilor Michael McCormack disagreed, stating that the exclusive nature of the party was atypical for the mayor’s office. McCormack expressed concern about the association of Boston with racial issues, stating, “The problem is that Boston and race, unfortunately, are synonymous. I’m just hoping it was a mistake. It’s not something that anyone in the mayor’s office should be proud of.”
Responding to the controversy, Wu’s spokesperson, Ricardo Patron, revealed that the “Electeds of Color” group had requested the mayor to host the annual party. Patron emphasized that the event was just one of several happening throughout the holiday season. Despite the backlash, Wu is planning a broader holiday party for all cabinet members, city councilors, and the legislature next week, in an attempt to bring unity and inclusivity back to the forefront. The incident has highlighted the challenges of navigating diversity and representation in local politics and the importance of fostering an environment that promotes inclusivity for all members of the community.
