MAY 22, 2007

COUNTY LEGISLATURE UNANIMOUSLY BACKING IDEA OF BUILDING WEATHER MUSEUM IN DOWNTOWN BUFFALO

The Erie County Legislature unanimously supported the idea of the creation of a Weather Museum in downtown Buffalo at its May 16 session.

The resolution, co-sponsored by Legislator Betty Jean Grant (D-Buffalo), will carry the County Legislature's approval vote and advocacy to federal, state, county and city elected leaders, as well as officials at the National Weather Service.

"The creation of a weather museum in downtown Buffalo would serve as a valuable addition to our current cultural institutions and increase tourism in Western New York," Legislator Grant said. "This would continue the Erie County Legislature's efforts to encourage the development of the regions' cultural institutions, which would help further enhance Western New York's reputation as a tourism destination. According to the Buffalo Niagara Convention and Visitors Bureau, the tourism industry generated $1 billion in direct visitor spending here in 2005."

"There appears to be widespread and growing support in Western New York for the inclusion of a weather museum in Buffalo," Legislator Grant added. "A weather museum could also serve as an invaluable education and research tool to stimulate interest in meteorology as well as serve as a place where people could learn about the weather, weather safety and the history of weather gathering techniques."

The father and founder of the National Weather Service is generally believed to be General Albert James Mayer, a doctor, surgeon and founder of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, who lived in Buffalo.