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September 25, 2008
Today we open our LC mailbag and consider this submission from reader Chaz who asks: "Why focus just on the Liquor Commission? Are they especially corrupt, or are all the other departments bad too? Also, is this unique to Maui or are LCs bad all over?"
To the first question: the existence of this column and its specific focus on the LC shouldn't be seen as a statement about the lack of corruption in other parts of government. We feel the LC has earned special scrutiny (plus that little cigar-chomping avatar is too cool not to run every week). But cronyism, eyebrow-raising decisions and inconsistent enforcement of rules—these are problems that permeate most if not all public agencies to some degree, and certainly not just here on Maui.
Which brings us to the second part of Chaz's query. A Google search for "liquor commission" and "corruption" yields close to 2,400 hits. On closer examination, many of these are related to the scandal that rocked the Honolulu LC a few years back and led to the conviction of multiple department officials on bribery and extortion charges in 2004. It was a juicy one. There are also a few Maui Time entries mixed in, which is nice to see in a pat-ourselves-on-the-back sort of way.
But the search hits aren't limited solely to the Aloha State. LC shenanigans are reported in all corners of this great land, from Iowa to Illinois to—surprise, surprise—Las Vegas.
So it's clear questionable behavior and liquor control often go hand-in-hand. Which really should come as no surprise; since the days of Prohibition (and before), the production, sale and consumption of intoxicating elixirs has been surrounded by a thick cloud of turpitude. And, it's safe to say, that ain't gonna change anytime soon.
Somewhere Al Capone is smiling.
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