The Third Millennium swept across America on a wave of public celebration that sputtered in rain-soaked Southern California, where outdoor celebrations were so poorly attended that Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan quipped that his citizens were "a bunch of sissies."
As the New Year's countdown headed toward Los Angeles, rain and fog shrouded the landmark Hollywood sign, threatening to shut down the city's climactic ceremony. At least computer shutdowns and terrorist attacks failed to materialize as the long-awaited watershed on the Christian calendar approached the West Coast.
If there was a Y2K glitch loose in the land, it was the intermittent rain that fell on Southern California throughout the day, squelching outdoor celebrations, emptying streets, dampening preparations for the Rose Parade and cutting Disneyland's projected attendance in half.
For every American who celebrated publicly, there were many more who were home as the clock slipped past midnight. The millions who chose more subdued celebration, or ignored the milestone, seemed abundant confirmation of what the public had been saying for weeks: It had grown tired and apprehensive over the relentless millennial buildup.
But others were determined to recognize the passing of an age of great achievement and adversity and to greet a new era that seems to hold boundless challenges and possibilities. President Clinton gave voice to those feelings at a White House tribute to American accomplishment.
"Never before have we known as much about each other. Never before have we depended so much on each other," the president told luminaries from the worlds of art and athletics. "Never before have we had such an opportunity to move toward what the generations have prayed for--peace on Earth and a better life for all. We must both imagine a brighter future and dedicate ourselves to building it."
In Washington, federal officials said computers appeared to be working normally, rolling over to the year 2000. State officials said they were so confident of computer systems that they had little to report at evening briefings.
"I want to pinch myself," Gov. Gray Davis said. "It's almost too good to be true."
There were no reports of major violence anywhere in the United States.
Celebration in Las Vegas
