Here’s An Idea: Let's Allow 11-Year-Olds To Vote On The City Budget

Boston’s Mayor Michelle Wu, which rhymes with Boo-Hoo, the sounds her constituents are making, is pushing the levels of absurdity in new and creative ways. Wu made headlines last year when an invitation for an “Electeds of Color Holiday Party” was accidentally sent out to uninvited white council members from her office.

Wu is up to her old tricks again, except this time, she isn’t discriminating against only whites. Now, she intends to do the entire city of Boston wrong. However, this time, she is meeting opposition.

City Councilor Ed Flynn criticized Wu for her "tone-deaf" and "unserious" proposal to allow illegal migrants and children as young as 11 to vote on the city's budget.

The Democrat expressed his “unequivocal and vehement opposition” to the plan in a letter to Renato Castelo, the director of the Office of Participatory Budgeting.

“During this time of great fiscal uncertainty — with a study warning that remote work policies and the city’s declining commercial property values may cost us $500 million in revenue annually, as well as a subsequent proposal to also tax commercial property at a higher rate — now more than ever, it is critical that we show the taxpayers of Boston that we take our financial responsibilities seriously.”

“Allowing children to decide the usage of taxpayer dollars would do just the opposite and be viewed as tone-deaf, unserious, and wholly inappropriate by my constituents.”

The city’s new voting process, which was approved by a ballot measure in 2021, is set to go into effect in July. This process will give Bostonians a direct say in how a portion of the city’s budget is spent, a significant shift in local governance, as reported by the Boston Herald. Wu announced the controversial aspect of the plan during a City Council committee hearing on Tuesday while reviewing the 2025 fiscal budget.

According to the Boston Herald:

The Wu administration, via the new office, will select the top 15 community priorities by the end of September, and residents will vote for five projects apiece in person and online next January. The five projects with the highest number of votes will be earmarked in the FY26 budget, city officials said during the hearing.

Mayor Michelle Wu has allocated $2 million for the current initial phase. The participatory budgeting office started this fiscal year with about $4 million; however, due to funds that rolled over from the past two budget cycles, some of which were spent on operational expenses, including staff salaries, Chief Financial Officer Ashley Groffenberger said.

Councilors Erin Murphy and John FitzGerald echoed Flynn's concerns, while others highlighted the greater civic engagement and deepened democracy that participatory budgeting aims to achieve, the Boston Herald reported.

Democrat Councilor Liz Breadon said, “I really do think this is a huge opportunity to develop civic engagement. I do hope that it will lead to a more engaged citizenry going forward.”

A more engaged citizenry? 11-year-old kids can’t decide between a Snickers bar and a Kit Kat. This is just another chance to influence voters and bring in an easily intimidated voting base.

Flynn recognizes this and has warned that allowing children to vote would be viewed as “out-of-touch and reckless.”

“Civic engagement for our youth is critically important; however, allowing children as young as 11 years old to decide on the use of budget dollars sends the wrong message to neighbors who have faced years of increased property taxes.”

“Deciding and voting on the budget should be an informed decision, one that the residents of Boston have entrusted to their duly elected officials. I believe that allowing children as young as 11 years old to vote on these matters will be viewed as out-of-touch and reckless.”

You Think? This is as ridiculous as it gets. Children who still sleep with night lights should not have the right to vote on city budgets. Wu is a dangerous woke leftist and her radical ideas cannot be allowed to infiltrate Boston.

It’s time to move on so residents can celebrate by yelling Wu Who, instead of Boo Hoo!

Milt spent thirty years as a sales and operations manager for an international manufacturing company. He is also a four-time published author on a variety of subjects. Now, he spends most of his time researching and writing about conservative politics and liberal folly.