Controversial City Hall aide Rachel Noerdlinger said Monday that she has taken an unpaid leave of absence following her son’s recent arrest — and a string of other embarrassing revelations about her personal life.
“Today I am announcing that I have decided to take a leave of absence to spend more time with my son,” Noerdlinger said in a statement. “These past two months have been extremely difficult for both of us, and his arrest on Friday heightens the need for me to devote my full attention to Khari, my number one priority.”
Noerdlinger was paid $170,000 a year as chief of staff to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s wife, Chirlane McCray — but Hizzoner said Monday that job will be filled by someone else.
Noerdlinger’s 17-year-old son, Khari, was busted for allegedly trespassing at a drug hot spot in Washington Heights on Friday night.
He was picked up with three friends, two of whom had small amounts of marijuana on them, law enforcement sources said.
Noerdlinger’s role at City Hall has also come under scrutiny due to her romantic relationship with convicted killer Hassaun McFarlane, 36.
The boyfriend has an extensive rap sheet, going back to his youth. In 1993, he fatally shot an 18-year-old in a dispute over a jacket, at the St. Nicholas Houses in Harlem.
He pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Despite her issues, de Blasio shifted the blame to the media on Monday — lecturing reporters for revealing the truth about her troubled family.
“We’ve seen this — we saw this in the 1950s. We’ve seen this throughout the history of this country,” he said. “If someone wants to smear people and use that for political purposes, there’s a pretty easy playbook for doing it. It’s repulsive, but it’s become quite common.”
He added: “So, character assassination happens every day in public life. What’s sad is when it goes beyond the boundaries of the public servant, and starts to be something that could include anyone they ever met — any family member, anyone they’re romantically involved with, their children.”
The mayor insisted that Noerdlinger’s personal life should not be subject to public scrutiny.
“I think the notion that, somehow in modern society, not just your own actions … your girlfriend or boyfriend, your own teenage child somehow, all of this is fair game for public discourse — I think something has gone wrong here that we need to really look at,” he said. “It’s going to be really hard to get people into public service if we continue on this path.”
The Rev. Al Sharpton, who was Noerdlinger’s boss at the National Action Network before she went to City Hall, released a lengthy statement Monday to say he stands by his former aide. He also went into a long tangent about the 2007 federal probe into NAN’s taxes.
Sharpton also made a point to say that he spoke directly with the mayor about Noerdlinger.
“I spoke with Mayor de Blasio and assured him that I will continue to work with him and the administration on the political progressive agenda we both agree on and will disagree with him when it becomes necessary,” he said. “I respect he and the First Lady’s sensitivity to Rachel’s parental concern.”
He went on to claim he played no part in Noerdlinger getting her job with the administration.
“I in no way was part of Rachel being hired or maintaining her position with the First Lady as some have reported, but knowing her skills I know the tremendous contributions her talents give all New Yorkers,” he said.
PBA president Patrick Lynch questioned whether Noerdlinger’s position is even necessary at City Hall.
“Should City Hall decide to fill what is a very questionable position, we hope they can find someone who appreciates the critical role that police have in making this city a viable place to live and who will not bring an anti-police bias to the table,” the police union chief said in the wake of Noerdlinger stepping aside.
Noerdlinger, who had a closed-door meeting at Gracie Mansion on Sunday following her son’s arrest, said Monday that she appreciates the support of de Blasio and McCray.
“I am profoundly thankful for Bill and Chirlane’s unwavering support over the last few months,” Noerdlinger said. “I can handle criticism and scrutiny of me, even when it’s mean-spirited — that comes with the territory when you take on the status quo. But increasingly, my son has been subjected to attacks that have nothing to do with the public interest, and everything to do with derailing this administration. I do not want to be a distraction — the work at hand is far too urgent.
“As someone who has spent my entire adult life working to advance social justice, I am so proud of everything the de Blasio administration has already accomplished,” she said. “Although I may be taking a leave of absence from my position, I remain a proud member of New York’s progressive movement.”
She added: “Thank you to everyone who has helped me weather this difficult period — your kindness means more than you will ever know, and I look forward to fighting for social justice on behalf of New Yorkers once I feel my pressing obligations to my son have been met.”
