Since the Twin Parks fire that took the lives of 17 people in Fordham in January, Asumana Susso has been supporting his family and his late cousin’s children that no longer have their mother.

“It’s been very difficult I’m not going to lie,” said Susso. “This is the first time I am experience this kind of tragedy.”

Susso says the challenge has been not only emotionally burdening, but a financial and legal issue as well.

He and several other Twin Parks families have filed a lawsuit on behalf of their deceased loved ones to receive financial compensation, however it doesn’t apply to extended family members.

The current wrongful death statue also places little money value on the life of children, seniors and those who are low earners, which hurts since Susso’s late cousin was a stay-at-home mother.

“It's high time for the authorities to make that meaningful change compensate people what they deserve not how much they make,” said Susso.

With the Grieving Families Act passed in both the House and the Senate that would help mend this financial and legal burden, the grieving families of Twin Parks are urging Gov. Hochul to sign it into law.