It’s Christmas in springtime in Wutopia.

In yet another milestone for her fully transparent and super progressive mayoralty, a Herald public records request finally determined how Boston Mayor Michelle Wu paid for her controversial “electeds of color” holiday party.

She wrote a check from her campaign account, which raises ethical and legal questions about why she hosted the party from the public Parkman House – the mayor’s personal hideaway – and used public employees to organize it.

Emails obtained by the Herald show city officials were heavily involved in planning it, and initially wanted to pay for it with public funds from the city’s intergovernmental relations office.

But that changed after the event made international headlines because of its very poor optics in not only excluding white elected officials but actually having to disinvite them after mistakenly sending the invite to their emails.

Wu appears to have panicked after realizing what a big controversy the party generated, and decided no city funds would be used to pay for it.

But poor optics, exclusion, use of city resources and secrecy are all gone now with the winter snow.

All that remains are some tough questions for Wu’s administration.

Because she paid for the party with campaign funds – indicating a political purpose – is it okay to use the Parkman House or other public resources for political events? Sounds like a question for the Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

Under OCPF regulations, candidates are not supposed to co-mingle campaign and public funds. This could be the basis of a complaint.

Under U.S. House ethics rules, there is a general prohibition against using official taxpayer resources for campaign or political purposes. There are similar rules for state and city public officials.

Why didn’t Wu just call it a campaign event to begin with?

Why didn’t she just say so instead of portraying it as some kind of historic city event?

The mayor went to great lengths to explain how beneficial the party was because it was the first time a mayor has sponsored an electeds only event. She said “we want to be a city where everyone’s identity is embraced, and that there are spaces and communities we can help support.” City Councilor Brian Worrell, who is black and was invited, said, “We make  space and spaces for all kinds of specific groups in the city and city government. This is no different.”

Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson said there is “no need for apologies at all” for the party and said it was “completely natural for elected officials of color to gather for a holiday celebration.”

So if they were so proud of this event, why the change to paying for it with campaign funds?

We’d like to ask the mayor these questions, but the day after she released info about the party, she had no public schedule.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu used campaign funds for ‘electeds of color’ holiday party, records show

Attendees smile for a picture at the Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s “Electeds of Color” party at the Parkman House. (@wutrain Instagram photo)