Chirlane McCray is widely recognised as the New York City first lady. Prior to her marriage to the mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, she worked as a writer, having penned down speeches for several political personalities and equally poems that attained publications on widely read journals. She has gained a reputation for her various projects that centers on public health. Following her appointment to a notable position in her husband’s administration, McCray works towards spreading awareness for the development of hospitals and matters that concerns mental health. She has helped her husband in consolidating his public image as she is his best adviser, working hand in hand with him. Read on to find out more interesting facts about the skilled writer.
Chirlane McCray’s Biography
The adept speechwriter was born into the family of Robert Hooper McCray and Katherine Clarissa Eileen in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States on 29th November 1954. Her father was a military base administrative officer while her mother worked in an electronics manufactory. While growing up, Chirlane McCray experienced racism to the point that petitions were written against her family when they relocated to Longmeadow Massachusetts, demanding their evacuation from the neighborhood.
In high school, McCray was bullied as a result of her color and race. Following her experience, she started writing and through her write-ups, she expressed her outrage against racial segregation. She is an alumna of Wellesley College, a private women’s liberal college located in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Afterward, she began working in the private sector in 2004 as she was associated with the non-profit, non-sectarian hospital, Maimonides Medical Center located in Borough Park, New York City. There, she worked for five years, before joining the American multinational investment bank and financial services for six months as a public relations officer. Below are more interesting facts about Chirlane McCray.
Facts About Bill de Blasio’s Wife and NYC First Lady.
1. Chirlane McCray’s Sexuality Status
During her days in college, McCray was a fellow of the feminist lesbian organization for black girls known as Combahee River Collective. She eventually made her sexuality public in 1979 when her article entitled I Am a Lesbian was published in the monthly magazine for African-American women, Essence. Later on, it was revealed that the reason Chirlane McCray wrote the article is to dispel the belief that black people who are gay do not exist in the country as at that given period. She was commended by the magazine for her openness and honesty about her sexuality.
2. Her Involvement in Politics
Bill de Blasio’s wife began writing speeches for the then-mayor of NYC, David Dinkins in 1991. She also continued to carry out the same role for Herman Carl McCall when he was a state cabinet officer of the US State of New York and head of the New York State government’s Department of Audit and Control. She additionally wrote speeches for the American politician, William Coleridge Thompson Jr. who served as the 42nd comptroller of NYC.
Chirlane McCray further worked as the editor of her husband’s speeches during his 2013 election campaign. When he was elected to the seat of NYC mayor, she aided in interviewing candidates for staff positions.
3. Her Marriage
While working for the then-mayor of NYC, David Dinkins, Chirlane McCray got acquainted with her now-husband, Bill de Blasio who served as the Deputy mayor’s personal assistant. The pair exchanged vows in the year 1994 in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. The union is blessed with a daughter named Chiara and a son, Dante.
See Also: Roger Stone – Bio, Wife, Wiki, Age, Family, Height, Is He Gay?
4. Chirlane McCray’s Political Appointment
McCray’s husband appointed her as the chairman of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance NYC. Following her appointment, she launched an initiative directed towards public health known as ThriveNYC which aims at overhauling drug abuse services. Although she has been criticized for spending lesser hours in the office, Chirlane McCray’s program is on track to spend about $1 billion in five years. The program received huge criticisms with regards to the failure to kick-start some proposed initiatives as well as about $850 million that is reportedly missing from the fund.
5. She Has a Chief of Staff
When Chirlane McCray’s husband was elected as the NYC mayor, she was assigned chief of staff, Rachel Noerdlinger, a publicist and communications adviser who was paid an annual salary of about $170,000, even the position never existed before in the state. Following Noerdlinger’s appointment, so many controversies sprung up as she eventually vacated her position in November 2014. In the next month, she was replaced with Roxanne John who earns an annual salary of $200,000. Chirlane McCray also appointed Jackey Bray, a former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration official as her deputy chief of staff at a salary of $125,000 per annum.
