Owner, Lessee Charged in Fatal Social Club Fire
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NEW YORK — Criminal charges of code violations were filed against the owner and leaseholder of the building that housed the Happy Land Social Club, where an arson fire killed 87 people last March, the city announced Friday.
Corporation Counsel Victor Kovner, the city’s chief lawyer, said charges were levied against Alex DiLorenzo III, owner of the South Bronx building, and Jay Weiss, who leased the space and rented it to the club.
DiLorenzo and Weiss face five misdemeanor violations of the city building code, Kovner said at a news conference. He said the club was being operated in violation of a November, 1988, order to vacate, that it had no assembly permit, inadequate lighting, an inadequate sprinkler system, and that it was being used illegally as a social club with inadequate and dangerous stairs and exits.
Three of the charges carry a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment.
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