Revamped Muster Brings Consistency Across NYCHA Developments and Inspires Poetry

April 12, 2024 Tadhg Hoey

The Caretaker muster – the daily meeting during which supervisors can set the agenda and provide crucial information to Caretaker staff – has been revamped.

As of April 1, daily musters for Caretakers now follow the same structure, schedule, and content across all NYCHA developments. Supervisory staff have daily topics to discuss during muster every day, including topics related to safety procedures, standard procedures, and even on-site training refreshers for staff. Supervisors can find daily topics in the Teams calendar and materials for the new muster in a Teams folder.

Previously, each development determined its own agenda. The updated process is part of agency-wide efforts to standardize processes at developments to promote accountability and transparency and better serve residents.

Cyril Gaetan, a Senior Advisor in Operations who helped spearhead the transformation – along with a small focus group of Supervisors of Housing Caretakers (SOC) from around the city – noted that the goal of the new process is to “have the same consistent message throughout the entire Authority with clear communication, thus creating a better and more structured workplace with increased accountability with the hope of changing the culture. One message; one team; one NYCHA.”

Athena Almodovar, an SOC at Baruch Houses, is such a fan of the new muster format that she wrote a poem about it, a lyrical take on Caretaker duties as well as tips and humorous insights from her 17 years of previous Caretaker experience, told from the perspective of an SOC.

“I would consider this a morning muster,” she said. “It has the things I would do in the morning.”

“I always thought, ‘What if I went in front of the staff one day and did something different?’,” she added, reflecting on her idea for the poem. “I always thought that I wanted to go in there [in front of the Caretakers] and do something different, but still of course relate it to housing.”

Her staff were impressed and asked to be featured by name in her next poem, Ms. Almodovar recounted.

Ms. Almodovar sees the new muster format as benefitting everyone – from helping new SOCs learn the ropes, to giving more experienced SOCs the opportunity to brush up on their knowledge.

“The best part is that you get to engage with the staff. Now, you’re having these conversations, giving out papers, really engaging them and showing them how important they are.”

Untitled by Athena Almodovar

Muster meeting here we go

SOC’s gonna run the show

Follow your schedule don’t stand around

Because these buildings need a safety rundown

Who’s on the roof having fun?

Best believe we’re gonna call 911.

Lobbies and elevators are they working?

I know you ain’t on that phone talking and twerking.

Walls, corners, don’t forget them tracks

Bend your knees to help support your back.

I know your drop site is not the best