As Mayor of Schenectady, I will work to build a stronger hospitality economy that puts workers, small businesses, and local opportunities first. Within my first 100 days, I will bring hospitality workers, business owners, and labor organizations together to identify challenges, establish a Hospitality Workers' Advisory Council, review outdated permitting processes, and begin discussions with CDTA about expanding late-night transportation. During my first year, we will pursue workforce development partnerships, streamline regulations, strengthen workers' rights education, and develop a comprehensive strategy to grow Schenectady's nightlife and tourism economy. Our success will not be measured by announcements or promises, but by real results: more jobs, thriving local businesses, faster permitting, greater access to career training, and increased economic activity that benefits the people who live and work in Schenectady. Our goal is simple: make Schenectady a city where hospitality workers can build a future, businesses can succeed, and economic growth is shared by everyone.
15-point proposal to protect hospitality workers, strengthen small businesses, and build a thriving local economy.
Our vision: Schenectady should be a city where bartenders, servers, cooks, housekeepers, hotel employees, musicians, restaurant owners, and hospitality entrepreneurs can afford to live, work, and build their futures.
Hospitality is more than an industry. It is a source of employment, culture, tourism, community, and economic opportunity. As Mayor, Orlondo Hundley will pursue a hospitality agenda that supports the people who make the industry possible while making Schenectady a more attractive place to visit and invest.
Our 15 commitments
1. Protect overtime pay for hospitality workers
Fight wage theft, unpaid overtime, illegal deductions, and employee misclassification. Partner with the New York State Department of Labor and labor organizations to ensure workers receive the compensation they have earned.
2. Establish a Hospitality Workers' Advisory Council
Create a permanent advisory council of servers, bartenders, cooks, housekeepers, hotel employees, business owners, and union representatives to help shape city policy.
3. Support fair wages and protect tipped workers
Advocate for higher wages, transparent tip distribution, and stronger protections against tip theft. Support state legislation to improve tipped-worker compensation while addressing the needs of independent businesses.
4. Expand late-night public transportation
Work with CDTA to pursue overnight and expanded weekend bus service so hospitality workers can travel safely and affordably between work and home.
5. Reform restaurant and entertainment permitting
Simplify municipal applications for sidewalk dining, food vendors, outdoor entertainment, and special events. Establish clear timelines and a one-stop assistance process for small businesses.
6. Establish a Hospitality Workforce Development Program
Partner with SUNY Schenectady, unions, restaurants, and hospitality employers to provide affordable training in culinary arts, food safety, hotel operations, management, and entrepreneurship.
7. Protect hospitality workers' right to organize
Support collective bargaining, union representation, and protections against retaliation. Encourage responsible labor standards in city-supported economic development agreements.
8. Create a Small Restaurant and Café Support Initiative
Help locally owned restaurants, cafés, bakeries, and hospitality startups access technical assistance, available grants, affordable commercial spaces, and guidance on reducing operating expenses.
9. Make Schenectady a regional nightlife destination
Develop a coordinated nighttime economy strategy that supports restaurants, music venues, theaters, bars, late-night dining, public safety, and accessible transportation without sacrificing neighborhood quality of life.
10. Expand local tourism and cultural programming
Promote Schenectady's historic Stockade, Proctors, Mohawk Harbor, neighborhood restaurants, music, arts, and cultural events. Develop partnerships that bring visitors into businesses across the city.
11. Create a Hospitality Worker Transportation and Parking Program
Explore discounted evening parking, worker parking permits, safer pedestrian routes, and transportation partnerships that make late shifts less expensive and more accessible.
12. Strengthen workplace safety and dignity
Work with labor organizations and state agencies to promote protections against harassment, discrimination, unsafe working conditions, and employer retaliation. Expand access to confidential reporting resources.
13. Encourage local purchasing and hospitality supply chains
Connect restaurants, hotels, event venues, farmers, food producers, and local vendors to keep more hospitality spending circulating within Schenectady's economy.
14. Expand opportunities for independent musicians and event organizers
Make it easier to host live performances, cultural festivals, pop-up markets, and community events. Improve event permitting and create more opportunities for local artists to receive paid work.
15. Establish a Hospitality Prosperity Partnership
Bring together hospitality unions, local businesses, tourism organizations, workforce institutions, and city government to coordinate investments, identify barriers, and publish measurable annual progress.
