It’s been a tumultuous 10 months since Westwood One’s Shadow/Metro Traffic was acquired by Clear Channel and ultimately renamed the Rutherford, New Jersey operation Total Traffic.

With Clear Channel in place, the media conglomerate brought in many of its own personnel. That included at the top. David Fein, who has been with Clear Channel since 2003. Fein was the VP, regional director of operations for Clear Channel Radio’s Total Traffic.   

So once the merger took place, Fein was essentially number 1, or 1a.  But Crys Quimby, the Shadow/Metro VP of programming and operations remained. FishbowlNY had reported in November that Quimby might be on her way out, as rumors circulated at the Route 17 complex that Fein felt he was the only manager needed to oversee the day-to-day operations, not the two-headed monster.

Now, FishbowlNY has learned exclusively, it’s Fein who may be pushed out. It would be a shocking climax to the merger, as his company, it would appear, is in the driver’s seat.

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Here’s a look at what FishbowlNY stories made the most buzz this week.

1. Latest New York Times Magazine Cover is a Gem (left), November 9
2. Time Warner Might Leave Manhattan, November 7
3. The New York Times Offers Tips for Spelling Names Correctly, November 9
4. WFAN’s Mike Francesa and Kim Jones Delve into Penn State Scandal, November 9
5. How Sports Illustrated Learned to Stop Worrying and Embrace Digital, November 4
6. Who Should Be Time Magazine’s Person of the Year? November 8
7. Conde´Nast Editors Go Hollywood, November 8
8. Insider: Metro Traffic VP/Operations Crys Quimby May Be Shown Door, November 6

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You may not have heard the last about layoffs at the former Metro/Shadow Traffic’s New York division, now part of the Clear Channel’s Total Traffic Network.

We reported on October 26 and 27 that several staffers, including veteran traffic reporter Lori Blanchard and Metro television president and GM Fred Bennett were cut.

Now, FishbowlNY has learned that the end could be near for Metro VP of Programming and Operations, Crys Quimby.

In April, Clear Channel acquired the Westwood One Metro traffic division, leading to the recent layoffs, and a melding of talent with their Total Traffic unit. Thats apparently happening in upper management as well.

On the morning of the layoffs last month, unbeknownst to them, two Clear Channel employees were overheard near the elevators saying, ‘Why do we need two directors of operations?’” a source with knowledge of the situation tells FishbowlNY.

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It’s hard to imagine being stuck in traffic without Jeff McKay to guide you along.

But yesterday was final his 1010 WINS traffic shift. McKay left his employer, Metro Networks, one week shy of 20 years.

Crys Quimby, Metro Networks New York VP, Programming and Operations told her staff that where McKay is headed remains a mystery.

“He gave two weeks notice, but is not at liberty to talk about his new position yet, so we agreed to hold off on this announcement,” Quimby said.

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