How do you make $1 billion mysteriously disappear?
Give it to the wife of New York City's Mayor.
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio's wife, Chirlane McCray, is on track to spend almost $1 billion over a five year time period on a "mental health initiative" — but city officials can’t prove the money is actually helping anyone.
The news broke during a recent City Council hearing where legislators slammed the first lady’s “Thrive” initiative for its sfailure to help the city’s mentally ill homeless.
Queens Councilman Robert Holden told The Post, “I like the fact that money is going toward mental health, but when they say we’re seeing a benefit in all areas, I take exception to that, because I don’t see it everywhere. I’m not sure anybody does.”
After members of the council’s mental health committee became outraged, Thrive director Susan Herman admitted the program will cost $1 billion every four years.
So what are they doing with the money? The details are pretty thin.
The hearing came hours after Politico published a report detailing the lack of accountability from the program or Thrive.
Photo of crony Mayor's wife by Getty Images