U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, the primary Dominican to serve in Congress, speaks to the gang of mourners at an April 14 vigil for the victims of the Jet Set nightclub tragedy within the Dominican Republic.
Photograph Emily Swanson
On April 14, Bronxites gathered at Lou Gehrig Plaza to commemorate greater than 220 lives misplaced to the April 8 roof collapse catastrophe at Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
A whole bunch of mourners—joined by over a dozen native elected officers and representatives from the Dominican authorities—lit candles and waved flags in remembrance of the victims. The Bronx, residence to a inhabitants that’s greater than 20% Dominican, stood in solidarity as individuals prayed for individuals who had been having fun with a dwell efficiency by merengue star Rubby Pérez when the roof collapsed within the early morning hours. The catastrophe claimed not less than 226 lives and left 150 others injured.
Among the many victims killed had been Bronx resident Manny Diaz, former Yankees pitcher Octavio Dotel, and retired NYPD forty ninth Precinct detective Emmanuel Gomez.
“These names are not just headlines. … They’re our family,” Borough President Vanessa Gibson advised the gang. “To all of our families who are grieving, we lift you up in prayer.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul addresses the memorial attendees.Photograph Emily Swanson
Forward of the gathering, Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered state landmarks lit in white, crimson and blue, the colours of the Dominican flag, and American flags lowered to half-mast in honor of the victims.
Unusual folks misplaced their lives in what ought to have been a enjoyable night time of music and socializing, Hochul mentioned on the vigil. “They came together just to be lifted out of their existence for a nice evening” when catastrophe struck out of nowhere, leaving a reminder of the fragility of life, she mentioned.
With over a million Dominicans residing within the state of New York, the tragedy is felt by these inside and out of doors the tradition, mentioned Hochul. “Your pain is our pain.”
U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who represents elements of higher Manhattan and the Bronx and was the primary Dominican member of Congress, mentioned the USA and D.R. are joined by “an umbilical cord that has not been cut.”
All through the pure and human-caused tragedies which have befallen the Dominican Republic, “In the journey, we found friends who stood with us,” mentioned Espaillat.
Attendees lit candles in remembrance of the over 220 victims.Photograph Emily Swanson
Some elected officers identified that what occurred at Jet Set shouldn’t be not like disasters within the Bronx, together with the Dec. 2023 partial collapse of a six-story house constructing at 1915 Billingsley Terrace, the place, miraculously, nobody was killed.
In addition they pointed to the 2022 Twin Parks fireplace that claimed 17 lives and the 1990 fireplace that took 87 lives on the Completely satisfied Land social membership.
Meeting Member Landon Dais, whose spouse is Dominican, mentioned his mother-in-law’s household associates who had been at Jet Set that night time stay hospitalized, and their 20-year-old daughter died. Dais additionally mentioned he coached baseball with the newly retired NYPD detective who fell sufferer to the catastrophe.
The Bronx acutely feels the ache of this tragedy, he mentioned. “These families should not be grieving because this could have been prevented.”
Council Member Pierina Sanchez, who chairs the Committee on Housing and Buildings, mentioned she has talked with the Dominican authorities about constructing integrity points. Going ahead, “We have to learn, and we have to do better. We have to save lives,” she mentioned.
Photograph Emily Swanson
With the seek for victims ended, investigators are actually working to find out the reason for the collapse. At the least one household has reportedly filed a lawsuit towards the membership house owners.
A publish on the Jet Set membership’s Instagram account mentioned the state of affairs was “unexpected and painful.”
“In this difficult time, our prayers are with each of the affected families,” the publish mentioned. “We share their pain as if it were our own, because we are also grieving. We are collaborating fully and transparently with the relevant authorities to assist the victims and clarify what happened.”
Mayor Eric Adams traveled to the Dominican Republic from April 13 to fifteen to survey the location and meet with victims’ households and first responders. Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr., who represents elements of the South Bronx, joined the mayoral delegation.
After surveying the wreckage on April 14, Adams mentioned, “My heart is shattered. And I will never forget the images that I saw here.”
“In God I trust. There are things that we don’t understand,” he continued. “But we must turn this pain into purpose. And I’m going to offer my assistance as the mayor to do everything possible to prevent something like this from happening again. We owe that to those we lost.”
The delegation — which additionally included New York Metropolis Division of Transportation Ydanis Rodriguez, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana Almanzar, Fernando Radhamés Rodriguez, president of United Bodega of America and Bronx restaurateur Junior Martinez — assessed methods for particular person New Yorkers and the town as an entire to assist victims’ households as they get well.
The Latino Social Employees Coalition has established a hotline for these looking for confidential psychological well being help in English or Spanish following the Jet Set tragedy: (212) 684-3264.
