Why is New York City’s mayor blaming tenants for the deadliest fire in decades? | Ross Barkan

By focusing on personal responsibility over open doors, the mayor is ignoring the neglect that led to this tragedy

On Sunday, the deadliest New York City fire in three decades tore through a Bronx apartment building, killing at least 17 people. Among the dead were children as young as four and five.

The New York City fire department blamed a space heater and a malfunctioning door for allowing smoke to spread through building. The door was not functioning as it should", said Dan Nigro, the FDNY commissioner. Residents told reporters on the scene that their doors often didn't shut like they were supposed to.

Ross Barkan is a New York City-based writer