The Content Maker

Norman Steisel, former NYC Sanitation Commissioner and First Deputy Mayor has a reputation as one of the first managers to bring modern management techniques to city government.

An excellent picture of Norman Steisel, as effective manager is drawn by Deirdre Carmody in the April 7, 1982 issue of the New York Times.

The article follows Norman Steisel in his daily duties and focuses on the way that he made decisions.

The article on the Sanitation Department’s operation center before a major snow storm. The order had gone out that Sanitation workers should report to work Monday night instead of during the day to be ready for the coming storm. By midmorning 900 snow plows, salt spreaders, front end loaders and open sand trucks were already on the road with a total of 1,400 units expected to be called upon altogether.

Norman Steisel explained his decision. ” We decided that we spent too much time clearing highways and making them blacktop,” Steisel said in an interview. “This meant that we did not get to the streets soon enough. I decided that if you can make the highway passable, you can always go back to them later and it will free the equipment to go into the neighborhoods.”

Norman Steisel further explained: ” It’s like the cop on the beat. It may not have that much effect on crime, but it makes people feel better. If people see the trucks on the street, the perception is that the department is out there cleaning the streets.”