#De Blasio says McCray’s $2M, 14-person staff is essential to fight COVID-19

Mayor Bill de Blasio said his wife, Chirlane McCray, needs a 14-member staff that costs city taxpayers nearly $2 million a year because they’re helping New Yorkers recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Criticism of her pricey team doesn’t “take into account the work that’s being done,” de Blasio said at a City Hall press briefing Wednesday.

“This work is about the needs of the people of this city especially in this crisis,” he said after being asked about the apparent waste of taxpayer funds during a budget crisis. De Blasio made the comments despite his insistence that there’s not enough money in city coffers to maintain parks or pick up trash.

McCray, who is considering a run for Brooklyn borough president, has doubled her staff in the past two years, including the recent addition of a $70,000 videographer who captured her baking ginger snaps during the peak of the city’s pandemic in April. The increase was first reported by The City.

De Blasio cited his wife’s work on mental health without naming her $1.25 billion initiative, ThriveNYC. The program has come under fire from numerous critics for its lack of metrics and transparency.

The mayor also mentioned McCray’s leadership of a coronavirus racial inequality task force.

“The task force on racial inclusion and equity … has been moving big policy changes literally with the purpose of redistributing resources to the communities that are most affected” by COVID-19, de Blasio said.

McCray’s decision to bring on a $150,000-a-year senior adviser in April, after Hizzoner announced a hiring freeze, was approved because the adviser is considered an essential worker much like someone involved in the city’s coronavirus test and tracing program, de Blasio insisted without explaining further.

But, the mayor added, her staff would be included in the 22,000 cuts of municipal workers that are scheduled for October if the city doesn’t get state or federal aid to fill a coronavirus-induced budget deficit.

“Unquestionably there will be layoffs at City Hall. There’s no question about it for my staff, her staff, everyone,” he said.