Contact: Colleen Roche/Matthew Higgins (212) 788-2958
The Mayor made the announcements at DoubleTree Guest Suites in Times Square. He was joined by members of NYC2000, including Brendan Sexton, President of the Times Square Business Improvement District and Jeffery A. Straus, President of Countdown Entertainment, the co-organizers of the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square. NYC2000, which will be chaired by the Tony Award winning actor Ron Silver, will coordinate New York City's millennium festivities with national and international millennium event organizers, the Mayor explained, and will work to ensure that New York City's millennium celebration is world-class.
"During some of the most pivotal events in modern history, the world has looked to New York City for leadership and inspiration - the welcoming of the new millennium will be no exception," the Mayor said. "New York City's millennium celebration will give New Yorkers an opportunity to reflect on our City's magnificent past and to renew our commitment to being the Capital of the World in the next millennium."
The Mayor continued, "NYC2000 will tap the immense wealth of talent of this dynamic group of business and community leaders from throughout New York City. Through the dedicated efforts of these New Yorkers, NYC2000 will meet the challenge of showcasing the best our City has to offer before an international audience."
Ron Silver, a native New Yorker who is also president of the Actors' Equity Association, said NYC2000 will work diligently to plan millennium events deserving of the Capital of the World.
"We're determined to throw the greatest millennium celebration in the world," Silver said. "NYC2000 will help create the most spectacular New Year's Eve celebration right here in New York City, while also working on other millennium-related events leading up to and throughout the year 2000. We want all New Yorkers, and people all over the country and the world, to have an unforgettable experience welcoming the new century and the new millennium."
NYC2000 will commence operations immediately and will continue coordinating and planning millennium-related events for the next two years. Marcia Lee, Deputy Director of the Mayor's Office of Special Projects and Community Events, will serve as Executive Director of NYC2000 and will oversee day-to-day operations. The executive committee will include Bruce Teitelbaum, Cristyne Lategano, and Tamra Lhota. The Millennium Committee of NYC2000 is currently in formation and will be comprised of prominent business and community leaders.
Waterford Crystal will unveil the design of the new Times Square New Year's Eve Ball in early 1999.The Times Square Ball is the property of the owners of One Times Square. The current version of the Time Square Ball - which will make it's final 60-second descent on New Year's Eve, 1998 - is six feet in diameter, weighs 500 pounds, and is adorned with 12,000 silver rhinestones, 180 halogen lamps, and 144 xenon glitter strobes.