WCBS Newsradio 880 invites our listeners to join us live at 2 p.m. ET Thursday for a special broadcast tribute as we say farewell to Rich Lamb and wish him a happy retirement.
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Tributes are pouring in for WCBS Newsradio 880 veteran Rich Lamb as his 50-year career in radio comes to an end this week.
Lamb's final day will be this Friday, 43 years to the day of his first assignment for WCBS 880.
The veteran reporter participated in his final City Hall briefing Wednesday.
Mayor Bill de Blasio gave a special salute to Lamb for his career and special contribution to the people of New York.
"Rich has had about a 50-year career, which is astounding unto itself, 50 years of letting New Yorkers know what's going on, telling them the truth, being a voice we could trust and a smart, decent voice at that," de Blasio said. "You've been through a lot of mayors now and you've seen New York City through some of its toughest moments, but you've also seen New York City come back every time."
Related
Lamb expressed gratitude for the mayor's kind words.
"Thank you for your overly generous words, I really appreciate them. I'm grateful for the ability to have questioned you, Mr. Mayor, and your predecessors, Mike Bloomberg, Rudy Giuliani, David Dinkins, Ed Koch and yes, I go all the way back to Abe Beame," Lamb said. "So it's been a lot of work and a lot of fun and kind of a great run, you know?"
To that de Blasio said, "Definitely a great run, not kind of, Rich, it doesn't get better than that and we really will miss you, but a lot of New Yorkers have taken strength from your reporting and just knowing that someone was telling them what was really going on. It's been real good so we're going to miss you my friend."
The mayor then opened the floor for Lamb to answer his final series of questions.
De Blasio joked, "We should do one for each year of your career, you get 50 questions."
Lamb asked the mayor about his plans after leaving City Hall, if the media has been fair to him, what he would say to other New Yorkers who may want his job, and what his plans are for reopening public high schools in the city.
The City Hall press corps then held a virtual round of applause.
"It's not as good as in person, but it'll do," de Blasio said.
Lamb's news colleagues also paid him tribute on social media.
LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App
Follow WCBS Newsradio 880
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram