De Blasio again defends wife's top aide

Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday that none of the revelations about his wife's embattled aide raises questions about her judgment.

"Nope, not at all," de Blasio answered in response to a question about Rachel Noerdlinger, the $170,000-a-year chief of staff to first lady Chirlane McCray and a policy adviser to the administration.

For weeks, Noerdlinger, a onetime spokeswoman for the Rev. Al Sharpton, has been buffeted by news reports about her debts, her live-in boyfriend, her failures to disclose them on background checks and incendiary postings on social media by the boyfriend and her son.

The administration has steadfastly backed Noerdlinger, slamming coverage as petty, unfair and sensationalistic.

"I think it's very clear in everything I've said that I have faith in her work as a public servant," de Blasio said after an event on combating domestic violence. "I think she's doing very good work for the city."

A city probe prompted by the reports found that Noerdlinger unintentionally failed to disclose on a background check form that she was living with boyfriend Hassaun McFarlan. He has a long rap sheet, including for manslaughter and drug trafficking. He also referred to cops as "pigs" on social media.

It's a controversy that frayed de Blasio's relationship with police unions, especially after the only disciplinary action taken against her was a note placed in her file. The administration won't release the probe's findings, or provide a specific legal basis for withholding it.

She has a tax lien, credit debt, and thousands in unpaid E-ZPass tolls and parking tickets.

"I know a lot people who have a lot of parking tickets," de Blasio said dryly. "Everyone should pay their parking tickets."

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.