Chief of Staff to First Lady Chirlane McCray, taking leave of absence:

 STATEMENT

Embattled City Hall aide Rachel Noerdlinger will step aside for a leave of absence after weeks of bad press were punctuated by the arrest of her teen son Friday.

The 44-year-old chief of staff to First Lady Chirlane McCray has spent weeks under scrutiny after it was revealed she is romantically involved with a convicted killer with a long rap sheet.
But the $170,000-a-year city employee withstood increasing calls to step down until the latest incident Friday, on her 44th birthday, when her 17-year-old son Khari was busted for trespassing in Washington Heights.

Statement from Rachel Noerdlinger, Chief of Staff to First Lady Chirlane McCray:

"Today I am announcing that I have decided to take a leave of absence to spend more time with my son. 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.

“I am profoundly thankful for Bill and Chirlane’s unwavering support over the last few months. 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. Although I may be taking a leave of absence from my position, I remain a proud member of New York’s progressive movement.

“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.”

Statement from Rebecca Katz, Special Advisor to the Mayor:
“The Mayor and First Lady thank Rachel for her service. She has been a great asset to the administration and the people of New York City over the past year, and everyone wishes her all the best during her leave."