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SCHENECTADY
City to add downtown helpers
Ambassadors help visitors find their way
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter

    Schenectady’s downtown ambassador program is expanding.
    Launched three months ago around a single part-time coordinator, the program will now include up to four part-time assistants who will cover additional downtown events.
    The Metroplex Development Authority is providing a $36,000 grant to cover the salary of the coordinator, to pay for part-time shift captains and to pay for all-weather equipment for volunteers.
    Downtown ambassadors are volunteers who provide visitors with directions to venues and answers to questions. They wear distinctive purple coats and yellow caps stitched with the word “ambassador” and carry flashlights and radios.
    “This type of program is common in cities where lots of activities are going on, and Schenectady now qualifies. On any given night, especially show nights, there are thousands of people downtown,” said Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen.
    The ambassadors will open doors, give directions and help people cross Broadway from the parking garage to Proctors and the cinema.
    “They welcome folks to down- town and try to make sure that the experience of coming downtown is 100 percent positive,” Gillen said.
    The Rev. Art Huduck will continue as part-time coordinator of the ambassador program. Huduck is a missioner with the First Reformed Church in Schenectady’s Stockade section. The church is also contributing toward his salary.
    “We provide a sense of safety. We are walking two by two to provide that sense of safety and welcome. We have not had anyone feel apprehensive,” Huduck said.
    The four part-time people will be shift captains who will supervise volunteers. The captains will come from the working poor, such as people who live at the YMCA women’s shelter and people from the City Mission and other service agencies, said Michael Saccocio, City Mission executive director.
    “They will become employees of a revitalized downtown,” he said.
    The ambassador volunteers come from a variety of professions, organizations and walks of life, Huduck said.
    “Last night, I had eight people from Capital Care Providers who came down for the first time to help. They learned about the city and they stood alongside men from the City Mission and women from the YWCA. To watch that dynamic happen is wonderful,” he said.
    Saccocio said the ambassador program was conceived by a group that emerged from a dialogue over how to foster economic development and help people in need downtown. At the time, downtown merchants expressed concern about the proximity of social service agencies, such as Bethesda House, and their clientele to downtown’s revitalized environment.
    “You don’t have to choose between economic development and helping people in need. This is the third way,” Saccocio said. “We can help people in need spur economic development. It is a better way in which everyone is served.”
    The Third Way Committee consisted of the YWCA, the City Mission, Proctors, the Jay Street Business Association and the Chamber of Schenectady County. They started at first by sponsoring chess tournaments and other activities designed to promote a safer environment downtown, Saccocio said.
    “As we were evolving our mission, we asked around about what the biggest need was for downtown,” Saccocio said. “What became apparent was a need for ambassadors to help people when they come downtown.”
    In September, the committee began the downtown ambassador program on a trial basis, using volunteers for 30 Proctors shows.
    “The bottom line is it went great. We have had nothing but positive feedback,” Saccocio said.
    Metroplex Executive Director Jayme Lahut said the ambassador program was an instant success due to the expanded membership of volunteers and the participation of the mayor’s office and the Schenectady Police Department.
    “It has fostered collaboration among a variety of stakeholders in support of downtown revitalization and a safer, welcoming downtown environment,” Lahut said.

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar00904

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The ambassadors will open doors, give directions and help people cross Broadway from the parking garage to Proctors and the cinema.
    “They welcome folks to down- town and try to make sure that the experience of coming downtown is 100 percent positive,” Gillen said.

They are kidding here....right? We are now paying people to help other people walk across the street and to open doors? Do the doors not have door knobs? Do the streets not have street lights and walk/don't walk signals?  I AM SPEECHLESS!

Better yet - we're paying people to direct walkers to private businesses - specifically, Proctors and the Cinema ... at taxpayer expense.  Why isn't Proctors or Bowtie paying this expense?

Maybe the purpose is so they can panhandle and direct people at the same time, I dunno, but this is WACKY.  I've spent time in Chicago, Raleigh, Dallas - I've never encountered "Ambassadors" like this.

went to villa italia on valentines days with my wife for dessert and witnessed these people first hand.  It is definetly strange and definite overkill.  Do adults really need help crossing the street? Like MT, I spent time in bigger cities, NYC doesnt even have "ambassadors" directing people or acting like crossing guards.  

Schenectady does not needs this, and is there really that many people going downtown from outside the city? MT is right  proctors and bowtie should hire door men if they want people to feel welcomed in a more personal manner.  At least a doorman is something that a big city has.  $36,000 wasted by metroplex

Quoted from bumblethru

They are kidding here....right? We are now paying people to help other people walk across the street and to open doors? Do the doors not have door knobs? Do the streets not have street lights and walk/don't walk signals?  I AM SPEECHLESS!

I'm not. It's so safe Downtown that we need this idiotic taxpayer ripoff. "Thousands of people Downtown", according to Death Ray? When? Where? The recent bomb "Happy Days" didn't draw flies. Avenue Q drew 300 for some matinees. Bussed in from Senior centers at reduced prices. The Rev. in question is always there to cheer lead some stupid new program.

What a waste of taxpayer's money. The plex has reached an all time low. Even worse, but not as expensive as the Big House robbery. Who even thinks of such things as 'ambassadors'? Where do they get these people with these stupid ideas?  And of course there is Mr. Lamendola/gazette reporting on such ridiculous issues. Ambassadors for Proctors and the Bow Tie.

I have to agree with MT on this one. Except one thing....neither of these places are pulling in enough funds to afford such a nonsense job. Certainly not Proctors. It is the taxpayers that are keeping Proctors afloat. And I have yet to hear how 'packed' Bow Tie is. Oh God help us all.....soon!

I bet that Suzie has JUST the people already picked to be walking around doing this.  In fact, maybe each of the county legislators will volunteer their time serving their community in this position...especially for the times when Schenectady's finest are out (and I don't mean the officers).

...As if our taxes weren't high enough spending money pon something like this.

They are just pumped up watchdogs.....

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They are just pumped up watchdogs.....

'Tax paid', unnecessary pumped up watchdogs.

If goodie-goodies want to waste time directing non-existing vistors fine. Stop wasting County taxpayer money on this garbage. This is a political payoff to a pro-Krat Rev. pure and simple.

What we need are real clergy speaking up for the poor people in this County that can barely pay the oppressive County taxes. When you look at the major contributors to Proctor's you see the County ( sheeple taxpayers) and Metrograft (sheeple taxpayers). The whole Arts & Drunk District is a total flop. These idiots can't even open up a gin mill at the Big Hose. Instead of retail they put horrible "artists" to fill empty space where a taxpaying business used to be.

I'm wondering why nobody has thought of the "separation of church and state" issue. Or does that only apply to Catholics?

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE ONLY APPLIES TO THE UNBORN.  THIS PROGRAM IS A HUGE WASTE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS AND EFFORT!  PERHAPS THE STIMULUS FUNDS CAN PAY FOR THIS TOO.  WHY STOP AT JUST FUNDING ABORTIONS OVERSEAS?  WAIT...THIS MAKES COMPLETE SENSE TO ME NOW!  SUSIE SAVAGE WANTS TO GET DIRECTIONS TO THE TOWNS AND NEEDS THESE GUYS TO HELP HER GET THERE.  

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SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE ONLY APPLIES TO THE UNBORN.  

And to the religious non profits like catholic charities that both except government taxpaid contributions AND in turn donates money back to political campaign contributions. Catholic Charities makes this nonsense ambassador fiasco seem like nothing, huh?