It's time to abolish the Maui County Liquor Commission. Maybe the whole Liquor Control department too, but we should certainly start by sweeping the tin-plated, know-nothing Liquor Commissioners out of the county government. They are worse than useless–they are anti-democratic cronies who show nothing but contempt for citizen oversight and public accountability–and the sooner … [Read more...] about Will someone please abolish the Maui County Liquor Commission?
Sunshine Law
Maui County Liquor Commission to hold big do-over on LC Director appointment
Hey, Maui County: if you need more evidence that the people pulling the strings over the liquor department are inept fools , look no further than the Liquor Commission. It now looks like they're backing off their Oct. 7 appointment of one of their own–Dana Souza–to assume the mantle of Liquor Control Director, a post held not so long ago by Dana's own father Joe. The reason, … [Read more...] about Maui County Liquor Commission to hold big do-over on LC Director appointment
Did the Maui County Liquor Commission violate the Sunshine Law when selecting a new LC Director?
We know that the Maui County Liquor Commission’s Oct. 7 selection of Dana “Son of former LC Director Joe” Souza to be the new Liquor Control Director was fast, but was it too fast? Did it, in fact, violate the state’s Sunshine Law? At least one local public official thinks so. “It was a railroad job,” said the official, who requested anonymity. “I have concerns as to how it … [Read more...] about Did the Maui County Liquor Commission violate the Sunshine Law when selecting a new LC Director?
Maui County Council, Maui Prosecuting Attorney in hot water yet again
Great news, kids! The circus otherwise known as the Mar. 3 Maui County Council hearing is still in town! In fact, it’s bigger than ever! On that day, the Maui County Council finally confirmed J.D. Kim for another term as Prosecuting Attorney, though it did so in one of the most ham-fisted manners possible. The meeting was part love-fest for Kim (dozens of attorneys from his … [Read more...] about Maui County Council, Maui Prosecuting Attorney in hot water yet again
Maui News Editorial blasts County Council for doing business in private
Yesterday I told you about a pretty weak front page story in The Maui News. Well, today the paper redeemed itself with a strong editorial blasting the Maui County Council for its addiction to discussing business in secret "executive" session: "In no case does any Sunshine Law REQUIRE a public body to go into executive session... Unfortunately, our County Council has gotten … [Read more...] about Maui News Editorial blasts County Council for doing business in private