May 14 Commemorative Commission Needs Funds

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Representatives from the May 14 Memorial Commission updated the community Tuesday on their progress since unveiling the memorial design in May, two years after the Tops mass shooting.

The commission said lack of funds is slowing down the process.

“Well, right now we have five million that’s been allocated by the governor and we have one million that’s been allocated by the city of Buffalo,” said May 14 Memorial Commission Chairman Rev. Mark Blue.

Funds allocated so far amount to $6 million, but the project is expected to cost $15 million.

“We have a fundraising committee that we run and we’re trying to get them acclimated and excited to look at the necessary funds that we have,” Blue said.

The commission has been working for more than a year to create a second permanent memorial for the victims of the Tops mass shooting.

To help raise funds, the commission met with White House adviser Tom Perez and other key Washington and state figures last month.

“It’s extremely important to all partners and financial contributors that we can get some benefit for what we do,” Blue said. “We’re even talking to the 9/11 Commission and others, because they have a model. They’ve been through this process before. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel.”

Blue said the designs presented in May have not changed at this time and that finding a location is also delaying the process.

“I wish I had a magic wand and we could just pick a site,” he said. “But there’s still work to be done and we’re working diligently to hopefully get that work done relatively soon.”

So how close is the commission to getting started?

“The hope, one hope is that in 2026 it can be done, and we hope, with the contingent of funds, maybe even start work in 2025,” Blue said.

The appointment of a site curator and the maintenance of the monument once built will be discussed at future meetings.

“The upkeep, maintenance and sustainability of the monument are not one-time tasks,” Blue said. “We want to make sure we cover all of that for the entire life of the monument.”

Leaders said meetings will now be held on the first Monday of every month, excluding public holidays. All meetings will be open to the public.