The liquor-politics mix in Prince George's

Regarding the Nov. 21 front-page article “Liquor, politics mingle easily in Pr. George’s”:

I agree that the liquor stores have great sway over the Board of Liquor License Commissioners and at least some Prince George’s County politicians. In this county, I can’t buy wine at my local grocery store. I can’t buy wine at my Costco. Mostly, to buy wine, I, a 48-year-old woman, must go to a liquor store that is plastered in ads and has security bars covering the doors and windows. I must swiftly pass by the loiterers and panhandlers lurking outside as I enter to buy a bottle of wine or beer. I can’t even join a wine club that offers home delivery. Home delivery of wine is illegal, not only in my county but in my state.

The liquor stores in Prince George’s County like the current laws just fine and allegedly do their part to keep the status quo.

As a lifelong Prince Georgian, I was not at all surprised or shocked by our latest scandal — the arrest this month of County Executive Jack B. Johnson and his wife, Leslie. I also was happy to look the other way when Sen. Ulysses Currie did whatever he allegedly did that allowed my somewhat local Shoppers Food Warehouse to carry wine.

But in spite of all the recent, scandalous allegations against Mr. Johnson and his wife, I remain optimistic that the new administration will clean house and reexamine the laws that regulate the way that wine, beer and liquor are sold and bought in our county.