State doesn’t need a duplicative weather-detection system

Snowfall totals that came with the historic snowstorm in November made national headlines. Erie and Wyoming counties reported 80 inches of snow. Parts of Jefferson, Lewis, and Oswego counties reported more than 30 inches and as many as 50 inches. Unfortunately, 13 deaths have been attributed to the storm.

Following the storm’s wake, Governor Andrew Cuomo traveled to Buffalo and announced that meteorologists did not predict the storm well, and residents were not prepared. While some may not have been prepared for the snow totals, it’s doubtful it had anything to do with the lack of weather predictions. 

Following Cuomo’s statements, meteorologists cited reports well before the storm that predicted that as much as five feet of snow could fall because of the amount of cold air blowing over the warm lakes. I recall reading local meteorologists’ reports days ahead of time that explained in detail why conditions were ripe for record snow totals. Still, the governor used the opportunity to promote the new $18 million “NY Advanced Weather Detection System” that will consist of 125 stations that provide data on air, wind, soil, and radiation. The information collected will be relayed to the public.

New York already has 27 stations operated by the National Weather Service throughout the state. Because the National Weather Service is currently providing what most would say is excellent service in New York state, does New York really need to spend $18 million for its own weather-detection system? Most people affected by severe storms would rather have that $18 million spent on helping them recover from the storm. Indeed, here in Central New York, our municipal budgets are often stretched during time of high snowfall because of snow-removal costs. If anything, $18 million would be better used to provide our municipalities assistance with these costs instead of using the $18 million on a duplicative weather-detection system. Further, as has been demonstrated time and time again, despite the best predictions, the weather will still happen and unfortunately cause damage at times.

Spend surplus on infrastructure
The New York State Budget Office estimates the state has close to a $5 billion budget surplus, due to large settlements with banks and financial institutions. The governor is expected to propose his budget in January and lawmakers have until April to negotiate and pass a budget. While we have a long way to go before the final budget passes in the spring, happily, there seems to be a consensus forming that this settlement money should be used to invest in infrastructure like roads and bridges, as well as water and sewer maintenance. This is a good policy because this is a one-shot revenue infusion that should not go for recurring state operating expenses.

Recently, Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner set forth a list of priorities she would like to tackle if Syracuse, like Buffalo, was able to obtain $1 billion from the state. She proposes much of the money to be used to upgrade Syracuse’s aging water and sewer system. I am sympathetic to her request (even though I would prefer that she advocate for a more regional approach). According to several reports, New York needs to upgrade its water and sewer systems. In fact, one report claims that to sufficiently upgrade our systems would cost $36.2 billion over the next 20 years. With the $5 billion surplus, it is not unrealistic to ask that a significant amount of that money be spent on infrastructure in Central New York.

William (Will) Barclay is the Republican representative of the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses most of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton, as well as the town of Lysander in Onondaga County and town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County. Contact him at barclaw@assembly.state.ny.us, or (315) 598-5185.