Here's the Ridiculous Reason One Democrat Is Calling for Boston's Mayor to Get a Massive Raise

Amy Curtis | May 22, 2026 8:00 AM

If you're someone looking to ask your boss for a raise, here's a strategy you might want to consider. In Boston, City Councilor Sharon Durkan is arguing that Leftist Mayor Michelle Wu and the City Council deserve massive pay raises to prevent them from becoming corrupt.

The argument came after the City Council voted to rescind a $43,000 raise for Wu and their own $21,500 raise, amid a $70 million city budget shortfall.

We're stunned the Council exercised any fiscal restraint, as that's not what Democrats are known for. But the argument that giving politicians tens of thousands of dollars in pay raises is the only way to prevent corruption is laughable and revealing.

Woke Boston mayor must get $43,000 pay rise to her $200,000 salary to ensure she does not become CORRUPT, loyal colleague suggests

via @DailyMail https://t.co/nTMBFv7nSw pic.twitter.com/v8vsj8Qk9r
— Mass Daily News (@MassDailyNews) May 22, 2026

Here's more:

The city council voted 9-3 on Wednesday against a measure to rescind the mayor's $43,000 increase, and the council's own $21,500 raise, amid a $70 million budget shortfall.
Wu, who won reelection last year, saw her pay increase to $250,000 from $207,000 in January. City councilors now earn $125,000, up from $103,500 last year.
During the meeting, Wu's ally, Councilor Sharon Durkan, claimed the pay hikes were necessary to prevent politicians from resorting to theft or taking kickbacks.
'We had a Council colleague … There was some corruption that took place on this body,' Durkan said.
'I do not want anyone that serves in this body to not be able to afford their life and to go towards something that's really dark and negative.'
She appeared to be referring to the case of former councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, who pleaded guilty last year to federal corruption charges.