Legislation introduced last week in Rhode Island proposes to ease the states fire codes, codes that were put in place after the Station Nightclub fire in 2003. What was the reason these codes were enacted in the first place? Is fire prevention and life safety no longer a priority - 9 years later?
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It seems the loss of business ("a few dozen") and tax revenue pales in comparison to the loss, pain, and grief experienced by the Station Nightclub victims and families. A business that is not safe for customers, or employees, and does not want to comply with fire/life safety standards should not be a welcome business in any community.
I find it interesting that in the article by NBC Channel 10 News in Providence, it mentions that the Lombardi club that had been in town for more than 50 years, and claimed more than $3.5 million in sales, had to move to Massachusettes to avoid the "near $500,000" in improvements to create a fire safe establishment. It seems that $500,000 out of $3.5 million is a small price to pay.
