Antonio Espaillat, co-owner of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, told the Associated Press that the ceiling had had recurring issues with plaster tiles dropping down. This has been a problem since long before the recent catastrophic roof failure. At a National Association of Real Estate Companies business conference in Las Vegas, Espaillat received an emergency phone call from his sister Maribel. She remained pinned beneath the debris after the attack.
Espaillat recalled that the flooring from the nightclub was made up of plaster ceiling tiles. These tiles had mostly been destroyed by leaks from the air conditioning units on the roof. Retiling was made a regular practice as the problems persisted. This pattern of maintenance neglect has plagued the mammoth venue for decades.
As soon as he heard of the collapse, Espaillat promptly flew back to Santo Domingo the next day. Alex expressed an immense burden of grief and worry for those as it has unfolded. His sister was still under the rubble, adding to his fear. “I am the first one who wants to know what happened,” he stated, emphasizing his desire for clarity regarding the tragic event.
Espaillat admitted that there are still problems with the ceiling. He’s never been given any official notice of potential liability associated with its deteriorating condition. This unwillingness to engage shut him out of the process and left him feeling “powerless” when asked if the collapse could have been prevented. He guessed that more than 500 people crammed into the downtown nightclub that night. If so, this would raise serious questions about safety protocols and the structural integrity of the building.
Espaillat shone a light on an insidious practice. The Jet Set nightclub has never undergone a structural inspection by city officials, even during annual inspections meant to monitor public safety and health. This glaring absence of oversight is alarming for a multitude of reasons, including the fact that scant regulatory measures currently exist to protect patrons and workers. Espaillat conceded that he had no conversations with private engineers regarding the structural integrity of the building. This major oversight could have provided powerful pointers toward where risks were most likely.
In response to that tragedy, Espaillat has been doing something. He called to families of other injured employees and employees who died during the collapse. He has reassured them that he will be there for them throughout their grieving process and any future legal proceedings. His legal team, though, refused to allow him to speak about what he said in past dealings in an exclusive interview with CNN.
As the investigations into their heinous incident continue, many are asking where accountability and preventative measures are for these types of establishments. Espaillat’s story uncovers an urgent need for stringent safety standards. We need to make those inspections more rigorous to avoid the kind of tragedy that occurred in East Palestine in the first place.
