Latest news with #Krizek
Axios
16-05-2025
- General
- Axios
Time capsule turns Transamerica Pyramid into a portal to the past
The Transamerica Pyramid Center unveiled a new exhibition this week showcasing artifacts from a time capsule buried in 1974. State of play: It takes people back in time to a window of San Francisco long left behind. Driving the news: When it opened in 1972, the Transamerica Pyramid was seen as a symbol of the city's growth. To commemorate the event, a team put together a time capsule and buried it 6 feet beneath the Pyramid's annex with a plaque instructing it to remain untouched for 50 years. Over time, the capsule was forgotten. But in 2024, as the Pyramid finished its first phase of renovation, a tip based on a treasure hunt book and an old map led to its rediscovery. Zoom in: The 14-by-16-inch steel capsule— contained a range of mementos marking the history that led to the pyramid's development. That timeline dates as far back as the Gold Rush, when the site sat along the San Francisco waterfront. It was later occupied by the Montgomery Block, a famous artist enclave. Relics of that time include a copy of the book "Ark of Empire: San Francisco's Montgomery Block," by Idwal Jones, and shreds of redwood logs used in the 1850s as an earthquake-proof foundation for the building. Other items revolved around the Pyramid's construction, ranging from Polaroids and newspaper clippings to the recipe for Pisco Punch, a signature cocktail invented at the original Bank Exchange Saloon. Friction point: Not everyone in the 1970s was happy about the Pyramid's radical design, which faced protests and petitions to shut it down. Flashback: "It was cloak and dagger," said 92-year-old John Krizek, the Transamerica Corp. employee who conceptualized the capsule. Because they knew an appeal would be filed as soon as they got permits approved for the project, they intentionally went to City Hall during lunch and hustled the employees into an impromptu groundbreaking ceremony with a signed-off note that's now in the exhibition, Krizek told Axios. In the capsule is also a sign with a cartoon of two ancient Egyptians arguing while pyramids are erected behind them. It was dispatched as a counterpoint to a protest against the Pyramid, according to Krizek. The intrigue: To combat the negative attention, Krizek and his team spent one morning making up little slogans, typing them up and shipping them off to the nearby fortune cookie factory. One such slogan was "People who protest the Pyramid seek cheap publicity." "I barely got back a basket of these things in time to pass out at that demonstration," he said. "We turned that whole protest into a party." What they're saying: Krizek, who now lives in Arizona, had not returned to San Francisco for almost a dozen years prior to the Transamerica Pyramid's reopening last fall. "I don't know of a square block in the western United States that reeks with so much history and significance as that piece of ground, and I feel it's important for people to remember that," he added. What's next: The exhibition opens to the public on Sunday.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Youngkin's vetoes take another hit on cannabis reform in Virginia
Cannabis plant. (Photo by Getty Images) Gov. Glenn Youngkin has once again thwarted a bipartisan effort to establish a regulated and taxed adult-use cannabis retail market in Virginia, vetoing a key proposal that would have created the framework for such a system. He also rejected measures designed to modify sentences for individuals convicted of marijuana-related offenses and protect legal cannabis users from discrimination in child custody battles. Youngkin's vetoes dealt another blow to cannabis reform advocates, who argue that the governor's opposition to these measures continues to favor the status quo of unregulated marijuana sales. Cannabis is legal in Virginia for personal use, but the state still lacks a retail system that would allow legal, regulated and taxed sales. The centerpiece of the vetoed legislation was House Bill 2485, sponsored by Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, who expressed disappointment over Youngkin's second veto of a bill that he said would have not only generated millions of dollars for substance abuse treatment and law enforcement but also provided a safe, regulated market for cannabis. 'It's wrong to allow the criminals to keep making money in this illicit market while pushing dangerous products,' Krizek said in a phone interview Tuesday, adding that a regulated cannabis system could boost state revenue by $300 million annually. 'Virginians deserve a well-regulated and tested market that is taking into account the issues that the governor is concerned with, which is why cannabis regulation will be a key issue in the upcoming gubernatorial campaign.' Krizek's legislation, which is identical to Senate Bill 970, sponsored by Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, proposed a timeline for issuing licenses for marijuana cultivation, processing, distribution and retail. It also tasked the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to oversee the new industry. Licenses could have been issued as early as September 2025, with the first retail sales expected no sooner than May 2026. Virginia made history in 2021 as the first Southern state to legalize small-scale marijuana possession and home cultivation for adults. But while cannabis is legal for personal use, the state has never finalized a plan for commercial sales. With no legal retail market in place, an unregulated underground market has flourished, contributing to safety and health concerns. Del. Chris Obenshain, R-Montgomery, a local prosecutor and one of the two Republicans in the House to support Krizek's proposal, expressed his commitment to sensible cannabis regulation in Virginia. 'I have been an advocate for common sense legislation to regulate the adult cannabis market in Virginia,' he said. Obenshain acknowledged the bipartisan support the bill garnered this year but also noted that many colleagues still had genuine concerns. 'I'll continue working in a bipartisan fashion until we find the right balance on legislation that can keep Virginians safe while also eliminating the confusing legal regime and proliferation of potentially dangerous products that currently exists,' he added. Youngkin, who rejected a similar bipartisan measure last year, said in his veto statement that states following this path have seen 'adverse effects on children's and adolescents' health and safety, increased gang activity and violent crime, significant deterioration in mental health, decreased road safety, and significant costs associated with retail marijuana that far exceed tax revenue.' The governor further stated that a regulated, legal market place 'does not eliminate the illegal black-market sale of cannabis, nor guarantee product safety.' For advocates like Chelsea Higgs Wise, executive director of Marijuana Justice, Youngkin's rejection is a major setback for public health in Virginia. 'We're looking at at least another year before we are able to provide Virginia with a tested and regulated market, which would center Virginia's public health for many consumers,' Wise said. 'Meanwhile, the underground market continues to expand, and federally legal, hemp-derived products flood the state, putting residents at risk. And now this governor this week has just sent a big message to Virginia consumers that our health is not a priority, that keeping our kids safe, keeping us safe, is not a priority for him.' Another piece of legislation, HB 2555 by Del. Rozia Henson, D-Woodbridge, would have allowed individuals convicted of certain marijuana-related felonies before 2021 — when marijuana was legalized in Virginia — to receive automatic hearings for sentence modifications if they were still incarcerated or under supervision. This bill would have applied to convictions for offenses like marijuana possession, manufacturing, or distribution committed before the state's marijuana legalization laws took effect. Youngkin vetoed the proposal, arguing that it 'places an undue burden on courts, prosecutors, and victims,' and could allow sentence reductions for individuals convicted of serious crimes, such as fentanyl distribution or selling marijuana to minors. He further emphasized the importance of maintaining public safety and avoiding judicial complications in such cases. Ben DePasquale, a spokesman for the Last Prisoner Project, expressed his frustration with the governor's move. 'This veto ignores the families still suffering from prohibitionist laws repealed three years ago. Virginia ended cannabis prohibition in 2021, yet many remain incarcerated for offenses that are no longer crimes. This bill was a crucial step toward justice — one the governor has now denied.' Wise echoed these sentiments, noting that the bill had already been modified to exclude individuals convicted of violent crimes. 'We did change the bill this year to remove people that had violent crimes associated with their sentencing,' she said. 'Even with these adjustments, the governor still claims it would be too burdensome on the courts.' Finally, HB 2613, sponsored by Del. Nadarius Clark, D-Suffolk, would have ensured that parents' legal use of cannabis — or other authorized substances—would not be used against them in custody or visitation determinations. The bill sought to prevent investigations for child abuse or neglect solely based on lawful behavior, such as legal cannabis possession or prescribed medication use. It would have required local social services departments to update their policies to reflect these changes. Youngkin's veto statement echoed concerns about child safety, warning that the bill would 'risk exposing children to harm.' He argued that legal marijuana use could lead to increased incidents of child endangerment, citing concerns over children ingesting cannabis-infused products. For Wise, the bill's veto was a missed opportunity for much-needed reform. 'This is a technical fix that should have happened in 2021,' she said. 'And it's not just about marijuana; it's about ensuring parents aren't penalized for using authorized substances like methadone or prescription drugs.' Despite Youngkin's vetoes, which continue to highlight his resistance to a fully legalized and regulated cannabis market, public support for reform remains strong. A 2024 Roanoke College poll found that 63% of Virginians back policies that would help small cannabis businesses compete with larger pharmaceutical companies and medical dispensaries. Even with the latest setbacks, Democratic lawmakers, a small number of Republicans, and cannabis reform advocates are pushing for a renewed effort to establish a retail cannabis market, underscoring the need for consumer protection, tax revenue generation and the reduction of illegal sales. In a silver lining for advocates, the General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution 497, also sponsored by Krizek, establishing a joint commission to oversee what advocates believe to be a transition to an inevitable legal retail cannabis market in Virginia. The creation of this commission, which does not require the governor's approval, is set to begin its work this summer and operate until July 1, 2028. It provides a platform for public comment and engagement, ensuring that voices from across the state are heard as the transition moves forward. 'We'll be able to talk to the legislators in both chambers, and we'll continue to make edits on our current proposal, so that whatever governor comes in for next year, we will all be on the same page about what we want for Virginia,' Wise said. 'And that's our win for this session.' And when asked if he plans to introduce the cannabis legislation for a third time next year, Krizek responded with determination: 'You bet,' he said. 'I think, no matter who the governor is, I feel like we're going to make it happen. I'm going to make it happen.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Virginia's push to add Fairfax to eligible casinos list dies in the House
Slot machines in a casino. () A controversial bill to develop a casino and entertainment complex in Tysons Corner died Wednesday after House leadership moved the bill between House committees for consideration. Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell's Senate Bill 982 would have added Fairfax County to the list of Virginia localities eligible to develop a casino that backers say would bring jobs and revenue for the county and commonwealth. But after successfully passing the Senate with a 24-16 vote, the bill died in a House Appropriations subcommittee. 'We're going to keep talking about it,' Surovell, D-Fairfax, said after Wednesday's vote. While it's common for House leadership to move bills between committees, it comes a day after Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, was expected to take up the bill in the gaming subcommittee he chairs. During a public event over the weekend in Alexandria, he said that he opposed the casino bill, sources confirmed with the Mercury. Krizek, a member of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Commerce Agriculture and Natural Resources that heard the bill on Wednesday, said it 'hurts' not to support the bill considering Surovell's efforts to prioritize Northern Virginia's economy. However, he said the commonwealth needs specific regulations around gaming due to the increased level of interest. 'I think we need to get a strong regulatory framework set up to oversee Virginia's gaming industry, which is growing,' Krizek said on Wednesday. Krizek said he hopes to use a budget amendment to establish the Virginia Gaming Commission, an independent agency charged with acting as a regulatory watchdog of all forms of legal gambling, except the Virginia Lottery. He said the commission is 'essential to streamline the oversight and enforcement of all gaming activities in Virginia, and we really need to get that going [first].' The subcommittee heard testimony from supporters about the possibilities for jobs, job security and increased revenue. Opponents said the bill lacked community support and only had two eligible locations for development in Tysons Corner. Lawmakers have also questioned the legislation after records suggested a financial relationship between the proposed casino developer Comstock Holding Companies and George Mason University following a university professor switching his opinion. Virginia Politics Revealed first reported the relationship. In 2023, George Mason University Professor Terry Clower described the previous legislation carried by Sen. David Marsden, D-Fairfax, as a 'measure of economic development desperation.' Clower is also the director of the Center for Regional Analysis at the Schar School of Public Policy. However, after records revealed that Comstock offered to pay the university to conduct a study on casino development, Clower voiced his support for the legislation at a public forum hosted by the Fairfax County NAACP last January. 'I think it's the best option going forward,' said Clower on Jan. 7. Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, who spoke at Wednesday's subcommittee hearing in opposition, wrote to George Mason President Gregory Washington that she was concerned about Clower's failure to disclose the financial relationship between the proposed developer and the Schar School of Public Policy, according to a letter obtained by the Mercury. 'The disclosure of this financial relationship, and more importantly, the communications discussing the use of the developer's data to produce the report has raised significant concerns about the objectivity of the analysis provided to lawmakers,' Boysko wrote. She added, 'Certainly, as a taxpayer-funded Institution of Higher Education, our residents expect a level of transparency and objectivity. Regardless of opinion on Senate Bill 982, the public disclosure of this financial relationship through the recent FOIA request has generated many questions.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
