January 8, 2001
The New Washington, DC
The Lincoln. The Jefferson. The halls of political power. These are the images of the old Washington, DC - a city best known as the nucleus of the federal government. Today, the District of Columbia is home to more than 400 technology firms. It has been rewired for the Internet and digital commerce and boasts a $5 billion commitment to improve our city's center. These are the images of the new and improved Washington, a city becoming known as a center for economic, employment, and housing opportunities - a 21st century city rooted in neighborhoods and home to the nation's government.
The District of Columbia is home to more than 570,000 men, women, and children. In 1999, the District ranked fifth among US metropolitan areas in total technology employment and 10th in top-paying jurisdictions in the nation, with average technology salaries at more than $60,000 per year. On November 13, 2000, Fortune magazine named the District of Columbia the fourth-best American city for business. The District's overall business environment, the cost of commerce, the caliber of the 300,000-member local work force, and the quality of life are considered among the best in the nation. Three Fortune 500 companies - Fannie Mae, Marriott International, and Danaher - have made the District their home.
Mayor Williams' Vision for the District
Mayor Williams has a clear vision for Washington, DC: safer streets, better schools, clean and healthy neighborhoods, affordable housing, accessible and affordable health care, and a vibrant downtown. Prior to serving as Mayor, he led the efforts to restore fiscal accountability to District agencies, as well as efforts to balance the city's budget. While serving as the District's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) from 1995 to 1998, Williams put the city on track for the return to self-government - two years earlier than projected - and delivered a surplus of $185 million in fiscal year 1997.
The Mayor's commitment to bring prosperity to neighborhoods throughout the District has led to the infusion of more than $1.5 billion in private investments and has attracted major businesses, including the Newseum and Freedom Forum headquarters, K-Mart, XM Satellite Radio and Qwest Communications.
In 1999, Mayor Williams set his vision in motion by establishing "Neighborhood Action," an innovative program of city and community cooperation to share ideas, address challenges, and implement action plans to help rebuild the city. The program is already working; as the results of the 2000 Census show, the District's population is no longer in decline. The city's thriving economy, improving public schools, affordable housing programs, and world-class cultural attractions make it an exciting and invigorating place to visit and live. According to Mayor Williams, "We're no longer just a city of monuments, memorials, and museums. With new economic and employment opportunities, we're moving out of the shadows of the past and becoming a city of the future."
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