Fat Joe has teamed up with the New York City Mayor to launch a relief fund for the victims of Sunday’s deadly Bronx fire.
The Bronx native obtained financial pledges from JAY-Z and DJ Khaled, in addition to his own contribution. Joe stated he’s currently reaching out to his friends in the music, sports, entertainment, and business communities for more support.
“I need all my people worldwide to come together for the families devastated by the fire in the Bronx. I’m donating and I’m asking everyone that has a Heart to donate. These people are mostly immigrants that have nowhere to go they lost everything. It’s 10 degrees in the Bronx today. WE NEED YOUR HELP,” the rapper wrote on an Instagram post with a flyer attached.
Joe also said that any cash donation “will enable the distribution of emergency relief and supplies and provide support for the victims and their families.”
As of Wednesday, over $1 million dollars were raised, the rapper announced on Instagram.
We previously reported that at least 17 people were killed and dozens injured when a fire broke out in a Bronx apartment. More than 200 firefighters responded to the 5-alarm blaze at the 19-story Twin Parks North West apartments, the New York City Fire Department said in a tweet.
Sources from the New York Fire Department stated space heaters were the cause of the fire. A few space heaters had been left on for several days in the apartment and sparked a fire.
So far, the New York department has confirmed the identity of fourteen victims. At least seven of the people who died from the tragedy were under the age of 13. in addition, thirty-five other people supposedly suffered life-threatening injuries.
New York firefighter union representatives reportedly confirmed the building was not required to comply with city fire codes. U.S. Representative Ritchie Torress pledged to create a task force of local and federal officials to investigate the cause of the fire to produce new legislation.
“We have to clarify in federal law that federal developments, federally regulated and subsidized developments, should be subject to local fire codes and housing codes and building codes. That every American have access to safe and affordable housing, including housing that’s safe from fires,” Congressman Ritchie Torres said in a statement.
