BOSTON— Mayor Michelle Wu is gearing up for a controversial trip to Germany this weekend to attend the Munich Security Conference, raising eyebrows amid rising property taxes back home. Wu, the first American mayor invited to this global gathering, will join a panel alongside Kyiv's Vitali Klitschko and Warsaw's Rafal Trzaskowski, discussing city leadership and diplomacy.

The mayor's office claims the event organizers are footing the bill for Wu and two staff members, a relief given previous criticisms over taxpayer-funded international jaunts. Last year, Wu faced backlash for her trips to Italy and Canada, which were perceived as extravagant given the city's fiscal tightening.

While Wu touts Boston as a "beacon for freedom," some residents are questioning the priorities of their city leader. With property taxes on the rise, many are left wondering if this globe-trotting is truly in the best interest of Boston's citizens.