WCBS-AM City Hall Reporter Rich Lamb Announces Retirement

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Rich Lamb

After an incredible 50-year career, including over 40 years with WCBS-AM/New York, City Hall Reporter Rich Lamb has announced his retirement, effective at the end of February. The news has garnered reaction on social media from a wide range of prominent New Yorkers including New York City mayor Bill DeBlasio, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres, Brooklyn Borough president Eric Adams, New York City Council speaker Corey Johnson and more.

"Rich is a one of a kind reporter and human being," said WCBS 880 News Director Tim Scheld. "He will be missed not just for his broadcast journalism and eloquent storytelling but Rich is a selfless friend, colleague and mentor whose influence and friendships can be seen across the New York City landscape in business, journalism and politics. Rich may be leaving, but he has left each one of us at WCBS 880 with something to help us carry on his legacy."

The following is a note sent to WCBS 880 staff from Lamb:

After 50 years in the broadcast radio news business, more than 40 of which have been spent at WCBS, the time has come. I plan to retire at the end of next month.

It has been a most extraordinary honor of a professional lifetime to have been a member of the WCBS radio team. Even as I write this notice of my imminent departure, a flood of fond memories crowds my mind with the names of the scores of exceptionally talented people with whom I have had the honor of professional association and friendship, too many to mention here.

My career began in 1970 in the Detroit market. After working at 3 stations there, in 1974 I landed at WXLO, New York, known then as 99X, a rock station. In the course of doing street work, the legendary WCBS political reporter Steve Flanders, after whom the plaza in front of City Hall is still named, urged me to try out for the reporter's position being vacated by the renowned Jerry Nachman. I assured Steve there was "no way" that would happen. But, in December of 1977, News and Program Director Lou Adler hired me. His first assistant Rob Sunde called to say the station had a budget issue, and that my start date would be February 26, 1978. Thus, I have requested that my last day will be February 26, 2021, 43 years to the day after my first assignment covering the "Polar Bear Plunge" in Coney Island.

Through all the news stories, great and small, beautiful and terrible, it has been my good fortune to have reaped the benefits of the skills, knowledge and camaraderie of my fellow professionals at this station. Here I want to make special mention of the "captain of our ship," Tim Scheld. Few managers in any business enterprise are beloved. He is, first for his unwavering professional standards and managerial abilities, but equally for his fairness, kindness and humanity.

I shall miss you all, and the privilege of what a colleague called "the best seat on the 50-yard line of life."

Sincerely,

Rich