State Sen. Karl Rhoads’ letter saying that Maunakea Liquor & Grocery “needs to go,” while pandering to his constituents from whom he has claimed to have received complaints, offers an easy target as a solution without addressing the real problem facing Chinatown: the homeless.

I am sure that “thousands” of Chinatown residents would agree that the homeless, and not Maunakea Liquor, is the real problem.

Logic suggests that without the homeless problem, residents would not have a problem with the store.

Unless Maunakea Liquor is engaging in illegal activity, the only reason to close it seems to be that it sells to the homeless.

Even if it is closed, does any rational person believe that the homeless problem in Chinatown will be even marginally abated?

It makes for great press to point to a symbol of the homeless problem, but it conveniently overlooks how to address the root of the problem. Typical politician.

Seems to me that the only thing that “needs to go” is an elected official who cannot bring law enforcement to his own district.

Lawrence A. Sousie

Downtown Honolulu

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