The New York City philanthropic community is reportedly offended by the lack of attendance at charity events by Mayor Bill de Blasio and his wife Chirlane McCray.
The city's first couple will skip the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute gala Monday night for the second time since de Blasio took office,
The Wall Street Journal is reporting.
McCray said she couldn't make it again this year because there is an event by the nonprofit Child Mind Institute, where she is being honored on the same night.
But de Blasio and McCray have notably skipped most of New York City's high-profile charity events. By contrast, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his girlfriend Diana Taylor frequently attended such events.
According to aides to the de Blasios, they have limited time and other commitments that often take priority, but they do try their best to attend such events.
But some in the city's philanthropic community view it as a snub, especially since McCray chairs the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, which is supposed to raise funds for the purpose of supporting New York City causes.
New York publicist Peggy Siegal, who helps organize high profile events, told the Journal that the mayor has "disdain for the striving, successful New Yorkers, and I have been told by insiders that he always listens to his wife, who also has disdain for the accomplished.
"They obviously do not relate to New Yorkers who socially network to support charities," Siegal said. "They have made themselves socially irrelevant. It is a major shortcoming not to mingle with all classes."
However, McCray said that she is"certainly willing" to make herself available to all events, especially for the purpose of the Mayor's Fund.
"Wherever people are who want to donate, you will find me," she said. "Not at everything because that's just not possible. But I am out there. I’m definitely out there."
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