The End of an Era for Westchester as WVOX Radio Goes Dark
During the past 25 years I had a weekly radio show on WVOX radio (1460 AM). I recently learned that the station has discontinued programming effective Sept. 7. What a loss! The station is going out of business.
This station, founded by the late Bill O’Shaughnessy over 68 years ago, was celebrated by The Wall Street Journal as “America’s Quintessential Community Stations.”
The station featured shows from Republicans, Democrats, conservatives and liberals. United States Presidential candidates, governors, almost every Westchester elected official and candidate, cardinals, religious leaders, actors, actresses, ambassadors and diplomats all were guests on the radio show at different times.
Former governor and vice president Nelson Rockefeller even commandeered a WVOX mobile unit on one of his last nights on the campaign trail. Rockefeller who called WVOX “my hometown station,” gave WVOX his last question of his final Albany press conference.
What made WVOX so special is that no one ever told a host of a program what to say. Everyone with differing opinions could express them to the listeners of WVOX. And if listeners disagreed with what was being said, they could call in and express themselves. Democracy at its best.
One of my last shows featured an interview with Marjorie Hsu, who is chair of the Westchester County Asian American Advisory Board. She talks about experiences Asian Americans have living in Westchester – the discrimination, the diverse population (some of whom live in poverty), mental health challenges and more. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVgIU_HzB4w.
THANK YOU WVOX radio for providing me with a forum to express myself for a quarter of a century! Westchester will not be the same without WVOX radio.
Paul Feiner
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
