Podcast Summary: All Of It – A History of Ward's Island Told Through Marginalized New Yorkers Sent to Live There

Episode Details

• Title: A History of Ward's Island Told Through Marginalized New Yorkers Sent to Live There
• Host: Alison Stewart
• Guest: Philip Llanos, Professor of Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and CUNY Graduate Center
• Release Date: April 17, 2025
• Description: This episode delves into the complex history of Ward's Island, exploring its role as a long-standing home for New York City's most marginalized populations. Through the lens of Philip Llanos's research and personal experiences, the discussion uncovers the island's evolution, current state, and future prospects.

Introduction to Ward's Island

[00:38] Alison Stewart:
Alison Stewart opens the discussion by highlighting the obscurity of Ward's Island despite its significant role in housing marginalized groups for nearly two centuries. She introduces Philip Llanos and his book, Exiles in New York City: Warehousing the Marginalized on Ward's Island, setting the stage for an in-depth exploration of the island's history and present-day circumstances.

Understanding Ward's Island

[02:02] Philip Llanos:
Philip Llanos provides a geographical overview of Ward's Island, situated in the East River between East Harlem and Astoria, Queens. He explains that while many New Yorkers pass over the island daily via the Triborough RFK Bridge, few are aware of its active institutions.

[03:04] Philip Llanos:
He details the current facilities on the island, which house approximately 1,300 individuals across two psychiatric hospitals, two homeless shelters, two community residences, and a substance abuse treatment program. This concentration underscores the island's ongoing role as a repository for society's most vulnerable.

Historical Context and Marginalization

[06:44] Philip Llanos:
Delving into history, Llanos recounts the pivotal event of 1847 when New York City established an immigrant refuge on Ward's Island following resistance in Astoria. This move set a precedent for utilizing the island to house various marginalized groups, a trend that has persisted for over 180 years.

[07:50] Philip Llanos:
He connects Ward's Island's history to the broader "Not In My Backyard" (NIMBY) phenomenon, illustrating how New York City's dense population has consistently sought to isolate marginalized populations—from immigrants in the 19th century to the homeless and individuals with mental health issues today.

Personal Narratives and Experiences

[05:20] Philip Llanos:
Reflecting on his personal connection, Philip shares memories from his childhood spent on the island due to his father's role as a psychiatrist. These anecdotes provide a humanizing glimpse into life on Ward's Island, contrasting with its clinical and institutional aspects.

Listener Calls:

• Herbert from the Bronx ([08:55]-[10:00]):
  Herbert recounts his childhood experience as a patient at the Manhattan Children's Treatment Center on Ward's Island during the early 1970s, describing the treatment as generally positive despite the challenges of being on medication.

• Kathy from Manhattan ([10:10]-[12:16]):
  Kathy, a social work intern, discusses witnessing a lobotomy and emphasizes the island's reputation as an inescapable state mental institution during the 1970s.

• Teresa from Midtown ([14:23]-[15:09]):
  Teresa shares her admiration for the island's recreational areas, highlighting a lack of awareness about the island's marginalized populations and expressing gratitude for the insights provided by Philip.

• Susanna from the East Village ([16:22]-[17:00]):
  Susanna seeks guidance on accessing institutional records of her grandmother, who was interned on Ward's Island, reflecting on the profound personal impact of the island's institutional practices.

• Diana from the Upper West Side ([17:55]-[19:32]):
  Diana, an intern from the mid-1990s, praises the individuals she met on the island and underscores the island's role as a "warehouse" for long-term residents, advocating for recognition and change.

Public Perception and Awareness

[02:13] Philip Llanos:
Philip discusses the persistent lack of public awareness about Ward's Island's active institutions, attributing it to rebranding efforts that merge Ward's Island with Randalls Island. This conflation obscures the ongoing residential and institutional functions of Ward's Island beneath its recreational image.

[04:08] Philip Llanos:
He critiques the rebranding as detrimental, noting that while Randalls Island focuses on recreation, Ward's Island continues to segregate marginalized individuals from the broader New York City community.

Proposed Solutions for Ward's Island's Future

[19:32] Philip Llanos:
In the concluding segment, Philip outlines seven proposals aimed at transforming Ward's Island into a more integrated and humane space. He emphasizes that these proposals are interconnected and prioritize housing, accessibility, and community amenities.

Key Proposals:

1. Consolidation of Hospital Buildings:
   Philip advocates for centralizing the three current hospital buildings into a single structure, allowing for the demolition of two buildings to make way for affordable housing.

2. Construction of Affordable Housing:
   Reallocating space from underused hospital facilities to create housing for shelter residents and other low-income New Yorkers.

3. Development of Community Amenities:
   Introducing essential services such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and dining establishments to foster a self-sufficient and welcoming community.

4. Enhanced Public Transportation:
   Increasing the frequency of the M35 bus route to improve accessibility, making it easier for residents and visitors to reach the island and engage with its amenities.

[21:12] Philip Llanos:
He stresses that these measures would not only provide necessary services and housing but also dismantle the existing segregation, allowing marginalized individuals to interact more freely with the rest of the city and access community resources.

Conclusion

Alison Stewart wraps up the episode by reiterating Philip Llanos's contributions through his book and his upcoming event. The discussion leaves listeners with a deeper understanding of Ward's Island's historical and present-day significance, highlighting the urgent need for systemic changes to address long-standing injustices faced by its residents.

Key Takeaways:

• Historical Marginalization: Ward's Island has been utilized for nearly two centuries to house New York City's marginalized populations, reflecting broader societal tendencies to segregate vulnerable groups.
• Lack of Public Awareness: Despite its significant role, Ward's Island remains obscure to many New Yorkers, partly due to rebranding efforts that overshadow its institutional functions.
• Personal Impact: Listener stories reveal the profound and often challenging experiences of those who have lived or worked on the island.
• Proposed Reforms: Philip Llanos offers actionable solutions aimed at de-segregating the island, improving accessibility, and providing necessary community resources to foster integration and support.

Notable Quotes:

• Philip Llanos ([07:50]):
  "Ward's island as a dumping ground for marginalized groups for the past 180 years."

• Herbert ([09:10]):
  "It was a good place... a lot of us would just throw away."

• Kathy ([10:30]):
  "When you were committed there, you couldn't get out. It was just... a state mental institution."

• Teresa ([14:50]):
  "I always knew it as Randalls Island... but I'm unaware of all the other aspects of it that I'm hearing now."

• Diana ([18:10]):
  "Meeting the patients and when I left the internship, there was a keen awareness... this really is a warehouse for them."

This episode of "All Of It" provides a comprehensive examination of Ward's Island, shedding light on its historical context, current challenges, and potential pathways toward a more inclusive and equitable future for its residents.