Rachel Noerdlinger

Rachel Noerdlinger (born November 14, 1970) is an American publicist and longtime communications advisor to national civil rights leader, Rev. Al Sharpton and National Action Network.^[1] She served as chief of staff to New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray.^[2] After leaving public service, Noerdlinger became a managing director at the global public affairs firm Mercury Public Affairs.^[3]

Early life and education

Rachel Noerdlinger was born on November 14, 1970 in Albuquerque, New Mexico and soon after was adopted by a white couple, Peter and Janau Noerdlinger. Noerdlinger, whose black brother was also adopted, claims she felt isolated growing up in predominantly white neighborhoods around the U.S. and didn't develop a strong identity until enrolling in Mills College, an all-women's college in Oakland, California, graduating in 1992 with a bachelor's degree.

Noerdlinger moved to New York City in 1993 after completing a year in the Teachers for Africa Program in The Gambia, West Africa. She enrolled in a Masters program at Teachers College, Columbia University but did not complete the program after discovering the field of communications through her internship at the Terrie Williams Agency, one of the most preeminent African-American public relations firms in the country.^[4]

In 1996, Noerdlinger wrote a Washington Post op-ed arguing that black adoptees should be placed with white families only "as a last resort".^[5] Noerdlinger later claimed that after she became pregnant with her son, Khari, she changed her position that transracial adoption should only occur as a last resort.^[6]

Career

A publicist, Noerdlinger is the President of Noerdlinger Media.^[7] While interning at Terrie Williams Agency, Noerdlinger worked with attorney Johnnie Cochran, whom she later served as a public relations advisor. She developed a strong relationship with one of Cochran's clients, Al Sharpton. Her PR firm worked on the Sean Bell case, the Jena Six case, and the Megan Williams case. She was Press Secretary for Sharpton's 2004 United States Democratic Presidential run. She has had a weekly segment on Sharpton's radio show.^[8]

Noerdlinger Media's clients also include or have included The Cochran Firm; Paul B. Weitz and Associates; Lifflander and Reich, LLP; Rubenstein and Rynecki; and Sunshine Sachs Public Relations.^[9] Noerdlinger worked on many high-profile criminal justice reform cases including the case of Eric Garner in New York and Stephon Clark in Sacramento.^[10]

In 2008, she was featured in Essence Magazine as one of the top 10 females in the country making strides in her field. She 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][12]

Chief of Staff to Chirlane McCray

On January 20, 2014, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Noerdlinger as the Chief of Staff to New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray, a position that had not existed previously.^[13] Her annual salary was $170,000.^[14][15]

Her appointment led to controversy: Noerdlinger was criticized for not disclosing in a background questionnaire that she lived with her boyfriend, Hassaun McFarlan,^[16] who has an extensive criminal record that includes guilty pleas for manslaughter and drug trafficking.^[17] Noerdlinger was not disciplined for this omission, as the Department of Investigation "found no evidence of intent to deceive the Mayor or City Hall."^[18]

Reports also indicated that Noerdlinger's home in Edgewater, New Jersey had a $28,190 federal tax lien placed on it in 2011.^[19] Noerdlinger had an outstanding E-ZPass bill of more than $7,000 for unpaid tolls and related fees on two license plates, as well as nine parking tickets totaling $876, but was paying those debts through a payment plan.^[20]

Noerdlinger was granted a waiver to city employee residency rules by de Blasio for living in Edgewater because she said that her son, Khari, had suffered significant injuries from car accidents and needed to be near his doctors;^[21] however, Khari Noerdlinger was healthy enough to play on his high school football team after recovering from his injuries.^[22]

De Blasio defended Noerdlinger as the victim of unfair scrutiny, comparing media attacks on her to McCarthyism.^[23] Many national black female leaders also came together in support of Noerdlinger. De Blasio stated he has never questioned Noerdlinger's judgment.^[24]

Noerdlinger took an unpaid leave of absence on November 18, 2014, a few days after her son was arrested for criminal trespassing with his friends (two of whom were in possession of marijuana).^[23] She did not return to City Hall and stepped down in November 2014 as Chief of Staff and started her new job as Managing Director at Mercury Public Affairs.^[25] In December 2014, McCray replaced Noerdlinger with Roxanne John, a longtime family friend, at a salary of $200,000. McCray also appointed former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration official Jackie Bray as deputy chief of staff, a new position which had not previously existed, at a salary of $125,000.^[26][27]

References