CONTACT: Colleen Roche or Kim Serafin (212) 788-2958
"Disney has given the citizens of New York a wonderful gift with its painstaking restoration of the beautiful New Amsterdam Theatre. We are thrilled and delighted by this magnificent addition to 42nd Street and feel that it continues the great new renaissance for this historic area of our City," said Mayor Giuliani. "We are also pleased that Disney has chosen to premiere its new animated film, Hercules, in New York City and is pulling out all the stops to make it a fun-filled event for families and visitors. Having worked with them previously on the Pocahontas in the Park premiere in 1995, we know that this will be a high-quality event that will bring much joy and happiness to all who participate."
"This restoration and reopening of the New Amsterdam Theatre is one more step in the rebirth of Times Square and the quality of life improvements throughout the City," the Mayor continued. "Over the past three years, the City has experienced record declines in crime. Streets are not only safer, but they are cleaner and are being enjoyed by a record number of tourists thanks in part to our efforts in reducing the hotel occupancy tax."
New York City's crime rates continue to decline with the most recent figures showing that murder in the first three months of 1997 dropped 27%. Car thefts were down 20% and crime overall for the first quarter of 1997 dropped 15.6% compared with last year's first quarter figures.