Summary

• Mayor Wu heading to Munich Security Conference this weekend — her second international trip in weeks
• Nova Scotia Christmas tree jaunt cost taxpayers over $13,000 in December
• White Stadium costs have TRIPLED from $50M to $135M — with homeowners hit by 13% property tax increase
• Wu defends spending spree: "Our Boston kids deserve nothing but the best"

BOSTON — She's off again.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is jetting off to Germany this weekend for the prestigious Munich Security Conference — her second international trip in just weeks — while residents back home grapple with soaring property taxes and a stadium project that's blown past its budget by nearly $100 MILLION.

The mayor will hobnob with world leaders including the mayors of Kyiv and Warsaw at the exclusive gathering, where she'll announce Boston is joining something called the "Pact of Free Cities."

Meanwhile, Boston homeowners just got slapped with a 13% property tax increase.

CHRISTMAS TREE CHAOS

Wu's Munich getaway comes hot on the heels of her December trip to Nova Scotia — ostensibly to chop down the city's Christmas tree.

That four-day Canadian excursion cost taxpayers more than $13,000, records show. Initially, the city claimed the trip cost just $5,000. They were off by more than $8,000.

Wu brought along her husband, three children, three staff members, and TWO Boston Police officers as a security detail. The cops alone cost taxpayers $6,220.

And don't forget her Italian vacation in May 2024 for a "climate summit."

At least this time, Wu's office insists the Munich trip is being paid for by event organizers. Small mercies.

THE $135M STADIUM DISASTER

But it's not the travel that has Boston residents fuming — it's what's happening while the mayor's away.

The White Stadium rehabilitation project has become a textbook case of runaway spending. Originally pitched to taxpayers as a $50 million investment, the price tag has now ballooned to an eye-watering $135 MILLION.

That's nearly TRIPLE the original estimate.

Wu announced the latest cost explosion just last Friday — then promptly prepared to leave the country.

When asked if she would have gone ahead with the project knowing it would cost $135 million, Wu gave an emphatic "Yes."

"Our Boston kids deserve nothing but the best," she declared.

Boston homeowners struggling to pay their property tax bills might beg to differ.

'ONLY FAIR TO EXPECT HIGHER COSTS'

Critics aren't buying the mayor's sunny spin.

"With these latest cost overruns, the taxpayer cost of turning White Stadium into a professional soccer complex has now more than QUADRUPLED," said Louis Elisa of the Franklin Park Defenders.

"And with four rounds of cost overruns before construction even begins, it's only fair to expect that the ultimate cost to taxpayers will be even higher."

Wu blamed the cost explosion on everything from steel prices to "federal policies and all of the chaos that's been caused by this administration" — a swipe at President Trump.

But even she admitted those factors don't explain "all, or even most" of the budget blowout.

WORLD STAGE WHILE BOSTON BURNS

Wu's office touted the Munich trip as a chance to "strengthen collaboration and investment in Boston" and connect with "leaders in government, business, education, and more."

She'll be the first American mayor ever invited to the conference.

It's quite the honor. One wonders if Boston residents would prefer their mayor focus on the collaboration and investment happening — or not happening — in their own neighborhoods.

As Wu poses for photos with European dignitaries this weekend, homeowners will be calculating how to afford their next tax bill.

At least someone's living their best life.