By Sam Wroblewski 630wpro.com
A father of one of the Station Nightclub fire victims is speaking out after Governor Gina Raimondo publicly put her support behind the owner of the West Warwick club Manchester 65 – despite the club’s dubious history with fire safety violations.
Raimondo recently defended owner Vanessa Toledo-Vickers saying she has done a great job for the state. The Governor appointed Toledo-Vickers to the state’s Commerce Corporation — GoLocal Providence has since reported that her club frequently held adult fetish nights.
“My interest is in getting the best people I can to help us do the work,” said Raimondo.
However since the Governor’s comments, GoLocal has released more information on the club, posting screen shots of numerous fire violations including a full kerosene heater stored in a closet and blocked fire exits.
Dave Kane, whose son died in the Station Nightclub fire, says the Raimondo’s stance on the nightclub is unacceptable.
“The Governor’s attitude is ‘Let them eat smoke,’” said Kane.
WPRO’s Gene Valicenti pressed Kane saying the Governor’s comments were directed at the fetish night reports and not the fire code violations – Kane replied Raimondo has access to the same media reports as anyone else.
“People look at a story like this and they think to themselves ‘I wouldn’t be found dead in a club like that;” I’ve got news for you, 100 people were found dead in a club just like that in West Warwick.”
The 2003 Station fire caused sweeping reforms to fire safety codes in the Ocean State after an investigation revealed simple safety measures could have helped prevent the disaster.
A message was left with the Governor’s office for comment.
