Mayor standing by embattled top aide to NYC First Lady

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio is reaffirming his support for Rachel Noerdlinger, despite new revelations about the top aide to his wife Chirlane McCray.

The mayor dedicated a memorial to fallen New York City police officers Friday morning, then stayed out of sight for the rest of the day.

In the Bronx, Chirlane McCray marked 'World Mental Health Day', but took no questions, unwilling to address the controversy swirling around her trusted chief of staff.

The administration was forced to acknowledge Friday that Noerdlinger did not publicly disclose a $28,000 tax lien.

She was reprimanded last week for failing to disclose that her live-in boyfriend, Hassaun McFarlan, served prison time for manslaughter and drug trafficking.

Ms. Noerdlinger lives in a condo in Edgewater, N.J. Police there revealed that she and McFarlan were stopped by an officer in 2011, in a car that reeked of marijuana.

"I could smell a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from within the vehicle," the officer wrote. "As Mr McFarlan exited the vehicle, he threw two clear ziplock baggies of marijuana onto the driver's seat."

Ms. Noerdlinger was ticketed for allowing McFarlan to drive her car without a license. McFarlan was charged with marijuana possession.

A year later, McFarlan was arrested again, outside the couple's apartment, on similar charges.

No one answered the door Friday afternoon.

Earlier this week, the mayor was visibly annoyed when asked repeatedly about Rachel Noerdlinger.

"I have absolute faith in Rachel and her ability to serve the people of this city. Case closed," he said.

And the case remains closed, for the moment.

"Rachel Noerdlinger is a valued member of our team," said a spokesman. "Her experience fighting for social justice and civil rights has helped us follow through on Mayor de Blasio's commitment to combat income inequality and lift up New Yorkers struggling to get by."