Seattle's New Year's Eve Celebration Canceled

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Dec 28, 1999 - 07:03 AM

Seattle's New Year's Eve Celebration Canceled The Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) - The mayor has canceled the city's New Year's Eve celebration below its landmark Space Needle, citing the possibility of terrorist acts. "It is safer to be prudent," Mayor Paul Schell said Monday. "This is already an unprecedented, unpredictable New Year's, and we did not want to take chances with public safety, no matter how remote the threat might seem."

International media coverage of the event makes it "impossible for federal officials to rule out the area as a terrorist target," he said.

The mayor said federal officials have not advised him of any specific threat to the city.

An estimated 50,000 people had been expected to gather below the sky-dotting Needle, located at the 20-acre Seattle Center just off the city's downtown. The 605-foot landmark, built for the 1962 World's Fair, is a traditional gathering point for New Year's Eve revelers.

Afternoon concerts and a circus performance will go ahead as planned on Friday, and fireworks - the centerpiece of the millennium party - will still pour from the Needle at midnight. But the Center will be cleared and the gates locked at 6 p.m., Schell said in today's edition of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Only a private function atop the Needle will be allowed to go ahead, he said.

Schell's decision is the latest in a string of moves to scale back the city's once grand ambitions for the event.

A plan to set aflame 14 giant wood-and-papier-mache sculptures - part of a $120,000 project - was canceled last Wednesday, while the mayor's plan to cover nine bridges and four parks in colored lights to mark the new century was scaled back to just one bridge because of cash shortages.

The city's nerves have been strained in recent weeks following tumultuous, sometimes violent World Trade Organization protests. Both Schell and Police Chief Norm Stamper, who has announced his resignation, came under fire for their handling of the demonstrations.

News that a man arrested at the U.S.-Canadian border with alleged bomb-making materials had booked a hotel room near Seattle Center also heightened security fears

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), December 28, 1999

Answers

Know there are many other sites to ask for people's prayers, but as a collective group (when you look beyond the sarcasim, jokes, cynacism, anger, etc.) on all sides of this group you will find some of the most incredible caring people. I have a friend (the best one could find anywhere) who is staying in Seattle for an experimental stem cell transplant for scleroderma. They will start the hickman line on the 29th and the growth hormone injection on 1-2-3 w/microwave on 1- 10. Wish she wasn't in Seattle and wish it wasn't scheduled for this time, so I'm left w/prayers because there's really not much else I can do now. Thanks!

-- claurann (claurann@aol.com), December 28, 1999.

I'm glad they cancelled. Special blessings for all those with medical needs that have them getting health care at this time.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), December 28, 1999.

Claurann

Hope your friend is at Fred Hutch Cancer Center for her procedure. Thay are the best and according to my neighbor who told us -"don't be in a hospital for rollover" one of the best prepared in the area. He sells hospital equipment and is very aware of the levels of prep in the area hospitals. Will say a prayer for her recovery.

-- Valkyrie (anon@please.xnet), December 28, 1999.


Valkyrie Yes, it's the Fred Hutch Center -- she's calling herself the "human autopsy." Thanks for caring.

-- claurann (claurann@aol.com), December 28, 1999.

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