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'Haters gonna hate,' de Blasio's wife says, in glib response to criticism of billion-dollar mental health program

The New York Daily News - 3/27/2019

March 27-- Mar. 27--Mayor de Blasio's wife took umbrage at questions from the media and the City Council about the billion dollar mental health program a day after she stumbled over basic questions about what the program does.

"The truth is, haters gonna hate. That's all that's about" First Lady Chirlane McCray said in her swift response to questions about the program on Hot 97's morning show Wednesday.

That was a marked change of tune from McCray's comments during a marathon council hearing Tuesday, when she thanked members for their questions about the program, even if she couldn't always answer them.

McCray is figurehead of the program aimed at helping the mentally ill, but critics have questioned how much it is doing to help those with the most serious mental illness.

The program has also struggled to offer clear goals and markers of success -- leaving it unclear how many people have actually been connected to mental health professionals through the endeavor three years since its formation.

Asked again -- by hosts who hedged that the critique was generated by people who disliked McCray's husband, Mayor de Blasio -- about the slew of skeptical headlines and criticism about the program, McCray doubled down.

"I think you gotta ask them. It's just haters, haters wanna hate," she said.

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