New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams attends a Mass on April 14, 2025 at San Antonio de Padua Church as he stands in solidarity with the Dominican neighborhood following the devastating roof collapse at a preferred nightclub on April 7, 2025 that claimed the lives of no less than 226 people and left over 150 extra injured.
Michael Appleton/Mayoral Pictures Workplace
The Dominican neighborhood in New York Metropolis is the most important anyplace on the planet exterior of the Dominican Republic — we’re their dwelling away from dwelling.
Dominican New Yorkers contribute to each side of life throughout the 5 boroughs, whether or not it’s working our small companies within the Bronx or enjoying in our sports activities stadiums in Manhattan and Queens. Dominicans should not simply our neighbors and our buddies. They’re our household.
So, when our household suffers a tragedy, it’s our accountability to be there for our brothers and sisters of their sorrow and of their grief. Two weeks in the past, when the roof of the Jet Set nightclub collapsed, no less than 231 members of our Dominican household misplaced their lives, and greater than 150 extra had been injured within the accident. Final week, in an indication of solidarity, I mourned with their households in Santo Domingo not merely because the mayor of New York Metropolis, however as a brother who felt their ache.
The night time of the roof collapse was a painful second for a lot of in our metropolis, and I knew I couldn’t simply present my help from a distance. I used to be honored to satisfy with the primary responders who risked their lives and rushed to the rescue. I visited the positioning of the Jet Set nightclub and left a wreath as an emblem of my love for the folks of the Dominican Republic. And I spoke with the households and neighborhood members who had been impacted, together with the family members of a retired NYPD detective who died, as a result of their loss is our loss too.
I additionally met with leaders of the Dominican Republic — its president, Luis Abinader, and the minister of public works and communications, Eduardo Estrella — as a result of I needed to supply our help and see how New York Metropolis can assist with the nation’s restoration efforts. The NYPD already has an intelligence outpost within the Dominican Republic that’s serving to in any manner they will. And I provided my very own private help to do the whole lot attainable to stop one thing like this from occurring once more. We owe that to these we misplaced.
As a person of religion in a rustic of religion, my closing cease was to attend mass with the archbishop, Monsignor Francisco Ozoria, at San Antonio de Padua Church. Going through darkness within the aftermath of this tragedy, I prayed that the unity of our spirit could be the sunshine that may flip our ache into function. As a result of collectively, we are going to overcome it.
The hyperlinks between our two communities are by no means stronger than within the wake of disaster. It was true prior to now, from the destruction left by Hurricane Fiona to the fatalities of Flight 587, and it’s true now. What I noticed throughout my journey — the exceptional vitality of the Dominican folks despite loss, their love for all times and unwavering spirit surfacing above disappointment — will also be discovered right here in New York Metropolis, a spot the place virtually 1 million Dominicans name dwelling.
As we speak, each New Yorker carries a part of the Dominican Republic of their coronary heart. Each of our folks perceive tragedy, however we’re additionally powerful and we by no means quit. Psalm 147 says: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” God bless these now we have misplaced and God bless the survivors. Our hearts are damaged however our hearts are additionally with you.
