FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    April 13, 2005

Release M-31

ADMINISTRATION RESPONDS TO LIQUOR COMMISSION AUDIT

            Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann issued the following statement in response to the audit of the Honolulu Liquor Commission by the City Auditor:

“We recognize that the Liquor Commission has had problems for many years. Some observers have noted that regulating the liquor industry is a complex, difficult task. This audit, however, raises issues that should be addressed by the City.

“I have appointed three people to the five-member commission. One of them has already been confirmed by the City Council and sworn into office. Those nominees were chosen after careful and deliberate consideration.  Even before the draft audit reached my desk, I discussed with my nominees the demands for better oversight of the commission staff as well as the importance of maintaining the highest ethical and legal standards among the staff and the commission.

“I urge the Liquor Commission to study the audit carefully and take its recommendations most seriously. The commission has my full support in taking whatever actions are necessary to address the concerns raised in the audit and to ensure the highest degree of public confidence in the commission and its staff.”

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Contact:

            Bill Brennan, 527-69928

            Mark Matsunaga, 527-5767