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15 Facts About Rachel Noerdlinger

1.

Rachel Noerdlinger served as chief of staff to New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray.

2.

Rachel Noerdlinger is the adopted daughter of Peter and Judy Noerdlinger.

3.

In 1996, Rachel Noerdlinger wrote a Washington Post op-ed arguing that black adoptees should be placed with white families only "as a last resort".

4.

Rachel Noerdlinger later stated that after she became pregnant with her son, Khari, her views on transracial adoption changed.

5.

Rachel Noerdlinger is a graduate of Mills College, an all-women's college in Oakland, California.

6.

Rachel Noerdlinger interned at The Terrie Williams Agency, a preeminent African-American public relations firm.

7.

Rachel Noerdlinger developed a strong relationship with one of Cochran's clients, Al Sharpton.

8.

Rachel Noerdlinger was Press Secretary for Sharpton's 2004 United States Democratic Presidential run.

9.

Rachel Noerdlinger has had a weekly segment on Sharpton's radio show.

10.

Rachel Noerdlinger has been called "the public relations force behind Rev Al Sharpton and National Action Network"; she has advised Sharpton and the Network on communications since the late 1990s.

11.

Rachel Noerdlinger worked on many high-profile criminal justice reform cases including the case of Eric Garner in New York and Stephon Clark in Sacramento.

12.

Rachel Noerdlinger's appointment led to controversy: Rachel Noerdlinger was criticized for not disclosing in a background questionnaire that she lived with her boyfriend, Hassaun McFarlane, who has an extensive criminal record that includes guilty pleas for manslaughter and drug trafficking.

13.

Rachel Noerdlinger had an outstanding E-ZPass bill of more than $7,000 for unpaid tolls and related fees on two license plates, but was paying those debts through a payment plan.

14.

De Blasio defended Rachel Noerdlinger, comparing media attacks on her to McCarthyism and asserting that she was being treated unfairly.

15.

On November 18,2014, a few days after her son had been arrested for trespassing, Rachel Noerdlinger took an unpaid leave of absence from her position at City Hall.