The Hart Island Project

Hart Island is the largest public cemetery in the nation as well as the only green cemetery in NYC. It should be a good choice as well as a sustainable one.

For those who don’t know: before returning to school to get my PhD, I worked for over 4 years at the New York City Council. During my very first day there I learned about Hart Island, New York City’s public cemetery, where those without the resources for a private burial are laid to rest, as well as those who may be disconnected from next of kin. In fact, it is likely Hart Island is the largest cemetery for those who died due to AIDS (the first AIDS victims are buried on a secluded part of the island, many, many feet down, due to fear and stigma). When I started at Council, Hart Island was under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections. Visiting Hart Island felt nothing like visiting the cemeteries I grew up going to so I could pay respect to my loved ones—something my family did often. Condemned buildings and debris were everywhere. You had to be escorted by DOC staff. The burials were performed by folx incarcerated, which impacted the availability of visitation and, of course, raised serious concerns around labor and the carceral system. Hart Island became a priority for me; I was 10,000% invested. If you knew me while I was at Council you probably heard me talking about it. After much research, speaking with and learning from advocates and those directly impacted, lots of work and teamwork, and time—and building on the work of those before me—Council passed a package of bills in 2019 focused on Hart Island, including shifting jurisdiction to the Parks Department, with the hopes of the island becoming a more dignified and accessible cemetery. Well, today my former boss Andrea Vazquez (who is incredible and so thoughtful) told me that Hart Island is officially open to the public, and I nearly cried. Who am I kidding, I’ll probably cry about this a lot as it sinks in. The land has been cleared of the dangerous buildings, and, although not as accessible as a “typical” cemetery, is way more accessible than it was before. I hope the advocates we heard from & who helped lead the process — parents of babies buried there, children of parents who died during the height of the AIDS epidemic & are buried there — are having an easier time and feel like their voices were heard. They led with vulnerability and strength and I’m simply overwhelmed. I’m so thankful for this progress, and looking forward to keeping informed of future changes.