Yesterday, elected officials and community activists stood at the Happy Land Memorial Monument in West Farms to remember the 87 lives lost 24 years ago in the Happy Land Social Club fire.
Ivine Galarza. Photo c/o Facebook (Councilman Fernando Cabrera)
“Happy Land reminds us of the importance of ensuring that our neighborhood nightspots are in strict compliance with all relevant licensing and safety requirements,” said Ivine Galarza, the District Manager for Community Board 6. “That is why the community board designates March of each year as “Fire Prevention Month in Community Board #6,” and why we work year-round to have local agencies, such as the fire, buildings and police departments, intensify their efforts to ensure that our local clubs are a safe place to gather, with working sprinkler systems, certificates of occupancy, clear exits and state
approvals.”
Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda added,
“It is important that we do not forget this tragic event. We are not only here today to remember the lives lost here 24 years ago but also toensure this type of disaster never happens again. I commend Community Board 6 fortheir continued work in this community to do just that and to make sure that the Happy Land fire is never forgotten.”
The Happy Land Social Club Fire occurred on March 25, 1990 in the West Farms section
of the Bronx. The fire, which was started deliberately, killed 87 people inside of the
nightclub. It was the second largest mass murder in New York City history and one of
the deadliest fires in the city since the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire 79 years earlier.
The perpetrator of the fire, Julio Gonzalez, will become eligible for parole next March
after serving 25 years of his 25 to life sentence.
Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. speaking to the crowd. Photos c/o Facebook (Councilman Fernando Cabrera)
A memorial mass will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at 7 PM at Saint Thomas
Aquinas Church, 1900 Crotona Parkway. A candlelight vigil will be held following the
mass.
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