Boston's Democratic mayor sparked outrage after inviting city council members to a holiday party intended only for “elected people of color.”
Michelle Wu's invitation to the Electeds of Color Holiday Party on December 13 appeared to have been mistakenly sent to all city councilors by her advisor Denise DosSantos.
DosSantos followed up the email 15 minutes later, apologizing for the invitation and clarifying that it was only for the city's six councilors of color. The seven white council members were not welcome.
“I wanted to apologize for my previous email regarding a Christmas party tomorrow,” wrote DosSantos, a Black woman. “I accidentally sent this to everyone and I apologize if my email may have been offensive or came across as such. “We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.”
There was no excuse for actually planning to host a segregationist party. Wu was criticized by outgoing City Councilman Frank Baker, who told the Boston Herald it was “unfortunate and divisive.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (pictured in October) sparked backlash after she planned a race-based Christmas party for “voters of color.”
Wu's director of city council relations, Denise DosSantos, reportedly accidentally invited the chamber to the exclusive event and apologized for any offense
The move quickly divided the Boston City Council. Some said they did not feel insulted by the party, while others questioned Wu's judgment.
Wu was elected mayor of Boston in November 2021, making her the city's first female and first Asian American mayor.
Michael McCormack, an attorney and former five-term Boston city councilman, said Wu's hosting of an exclusive party was not typical of her office, arguing that former mayors Tom Menino and Ray Flynn invited the entire chamber.
“The problem is that Boston and race are unfortunately synonymous,” McCormack said.
“I just hope it was a mistake.” No one in the mayor’s office should be proud of that.”
However, Wu's spokesman Ricardo Patron said Wednesday that the mayor was asked by the group Elects of Color to host the annual party and that the host and location change each year.
He said the party was just one of many held during the holiday and that Wu was planning a larger holiday party next week for all of her cabinet members, city councilors and the entire legislature.
Baker said he didn't think the additional, exclusive party was a “good move” given rising tensions on the City Council, but said he wasn't personally offended.
City Councilwoman Tania Fernandes Anderson defended Wu, saying, “Just as there are groups that come together based on shared interests or cultural backgrounds, it is completely natural for elected officials of color to gather for a holiday celebration.”
Wu, a former City Council member, was elected mayor of Boston in 2021, making her the city's first female and first Asian American mayor
“I think it's unfortunate that given the current temperatures we're pushing this division further,” he said, adding: “I'm not easily offended.”
“To offend me, you have to do a lot more than not inviting me to a party.”
Others defended the move. City Councilman Brian Worrell, who is black, said the holiday party was an example of Boston government reflecting “all kinds of specific groups.”
“We are creating space and rooms for all sorts of specific groups in the city and city government,” Worrell told the Boston Herald. “This is no different, and Elected Officials of Color have been around for more than a decade.”
Worrell also reportedly said that DosSantos had a good working relationship with the city council and that he took no offense at the way the incident unfolded.
“As she said in her follow-up email, she meant no harm,” he said.
Some critics questioned Wu's judgment, saying hosting an exclusive party was not typical of her position as mayor and the move might not have succeeded if it had been carried out by former mayors such as Ray Flynn (left) and Thomas Menino (right). .
The event was announced after Mayor Wu's City Council Relations Director Denise DosSantos (pictured) accidentally invited the entire chamber and not just “elected people of color.”
Councilwoman Tania Fernandes Anderson said in an email to DosSantos and Wu's team that the email invitation was “not intended to offend anyone and there is absolutely no confusion.”
Fernandes Anderson opined that there was “no need at all for an apology”: “Just as there are groups that meet because of common interests or cultural backgrounds, it is completely natural for elected officials of color to gather for a holiday celebration .”
She continued: “Many groups celebrate and come together in different ways, and it's not about excluding anyone. Instead, it's about creating spaces for like-minded people to connect and support each other.”