Newburgh approves $1.9M for African American burial ground after blow-up between mayor and councilman
The remains of more than 100 former slaves were discovered underground during the 2008 renovation of what is now the Newburgh City Court building on Broadway.
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The Newburgh City Council just approved nearly $2 million to develop a burial ground for the remains of past slaves that were discovered beneath Broadway, though not everyone on the council is on board with the plan that has been in the works for 17 years.
Councilman Omari Shakur and Mayor Torrance Harvey shouted at each other during Monday night's council meeting over the plan to spend $1.9 million on the African American Burial Ground project in Downing Park.
Shakur argued the money should be used for youth programs.
The remains of more than 100 former slaves were discovered underground during the 2008 renovation of what is now the Newburgh City Court building on Broadway.
A special city-sponsored committee has been developing the burial ground ever since.
"For 20 years, we've been thinking about this or whatever but in the meantime, our children are dying,” said Shakur. “There's no community center here. There's nowhere for the living kids."
Shakur was the only council representative to vote against the funding measure.
The rest of the council seemed pleased with the expansion of youth programs by the city and by private citizens.
The burial ground money is coming from American Rescue Plan funds the city received during the COVID-19 pandemic, not from local tax dollars.
Mayor Torrance Harvey said this is the city's chance to move the project forward.
"These are former African American slaves," he said. "They need to be reinterned with dignity and respect."
Lisa Sheehan, who grew up in Newburgh said the park should be improved for the youth before building a burial ground.
"If there were…more things for the kids to do, it would be different," she said during an afternoon rest on a bench near the site. "The park is nice to have, but again, what about the kids?"
Student and nursing assistant Pinky Stewart, a lifelong city resident, found it hard to put a price on a lasting lesson about slavery.
"They were on their hands and knees and scrubbing for people," she said. "It's important for people to know more about their history."
The city must still finalize the burial ground design and conduct an environmental review before work can begin.
The remains of 99 people that were dug up are being stored at SUNY New Paltz. The remains of 15 others are still buried near or under Newburgh City Court.
