New York ( CNN ) -- Longtime local news anchor Sue Simmons will no longer fill her familiar co-anchor chair at New York 's NBC station , according to a company statement . Simmons , 68 , who has spent more than three decades on-air for WNBC and was reportedly at one time the highest paid local television anchor in the country , will not get her contract renewed when it expires in June . `` We have tremendous respect and admiration for Sue Simmons , '' said Dawn Rowan , a spokesperson for the station . `` For decades , Sue has been a critical part of New York 's longest tenured anchor team in the city and has more than earned her iconic status . '' The announcement of her departure spawned a `` Save Sue Simmons '' Facebook page , and prompted other social media postings about her past exploits . Her anchoring is punctuated by what some called a quintessential New York attitude , and her often sassy comments , smirks and grins go against what might be considered typical news anchor decor . Jack Cafferty , a CNN commentator who co-anchored with Simmons for 13 of the 32 years she has worked for WNBC , called her a `` breath of fresh air in the otherwise stuffy , pretentious world of journalism . '' Mark Harris , a columnist for Entertainment Weekly , tweeted : `` Fellow New Yorkers , I hope you all get that this is wrong , stupid and evil , '' Her newscast was ranked No . 1 in the fiercely competitive New York local news market this year among advertisers ' favorite demographic , ages 25 to 54 . Simmons did not immediately return calls seeking comment . The contract of her co-anchor , Chuck Scarborough , 68 , has been renewed for another three years . Simmons ' role had been diminished in recent years , anchoring only the station 's 11 p.m. newscast . The show dropped her from the 6 p.m. slot last year after she returned from back surgery . She will remain on the air until her contract expires , the station said .
WNBC has ended its 32-year relationship with Sue Simmons . The network announced the news on Twitter late Tuesday afternoon. CNN 's Jack Cafferty says she is `` a breath of fresh air ''