September 28, 1999
District Government Partners with White House for Millennium Celebration
District to Host 'Main Street Millennium' and Celebrate 200th Year as the Nation's Capital
(Washington, D.C.) Mayor Anthony A. Williams joined First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton to announce preparations for the upcoming Millennium Celebration. The Mayor promised the District would be a dependable partner with the White House for the upcoming event.
"The District is proud to be a partner with the White House and will be hosting one of the events 'Main Street Millennium' along Constitution Avenue," said the Mayor. "We are an international city enriched by the culture, cuisine and history that people from all across the world have brought to the District. 'Main Street Millennium' will celebrate all of that diversity, all of that music and food, and all of these traditions, in a very special winter street festival."
In January, the District will be announcing a series of activities to celebrate the spirit of a city that isn't just coming back, but roaring back. The celebration will not only be to welcome a new millennium, but it will also begin a yearlong birthday celebration for the District as the city celebrates its 200th year as the Nation's Capital. These activities will not only highlight the District as a premier capital for families to visit, but will be a chance for the citizens to reconnect and celebrate the history of the District's neighborhoods.
The Millennium office has a budget of $500,000 that is paid for entirely by a congressional appropriation. The year of events will cost between $3 - $4 million, including $1 - $1.5 million for 'Main Street Millennium'. All of those funds will be raised privately.
"My staff is working with Federal officials so that the Federal Government will be compensating the District for extra security and emergency services so that this event will be a successful one," said the Mayor.
