Governor Kathy Hochul delivered remarks at Buffalo’s 5/14 remembrance ceremony, honoring the lives lost and the community affected by the racially motivated mass shooting at Tops Friendly Markets on May 14, 2022. The Governor also announced an additional $3 million for the 5/14 Living Memorial and Healing Center, bringing the state’s total contribution to $9 million.
A memorial with public purpose
The Living Memorial and Healing Center is intended to be more than a static marker. The project is being framed as a permanent place for remembrance, healing and community resilience on Buffalo’s East Side.
At the Governor’s direction, 15 state landmarks were set to illuminate orange on May 14 to commemorate the ten lives lost in the attack.
Why this belongs in a New York business and civic news feed
Public memorials are civic infrastructure. They shape how a city tells the truth about violence, supports affected families and invests in neighborhoods that carry trauma long after headlines move on. For Buffalo, the additional funding keeps the memorial project moving from promise toward construction.
For civic leaders, the broader lesson is that recovery requires both security policy and long-term place-based investment. Communities need visible commitments that remain after the anniversary ceremonies end.
Source: Governor Kathy Hochul, May 14, 2026. Read the official release.