Once again, a counter-culture business in my neighborhood has whipped up a frenzy to protect me from exposure to an enterprise which is legal, clean and generally seen as a good citizen ["Coffee Culture Clash," WW, Jan. 21, 2004]. The Red and Black Cafe Collective feels that government should offer them special protection from competition because, well, they're special. I wouldn't think that a Blockbuster store with the same pedigree as Starbucks would raise any objection from the collective--until the minute they started selling coffee and scones.

The same crowd stopped McDonald's on Hawthorne, even when a creative mixed-use plan was proposed. Some members of People's Co-op (though not the entire board) have protested the multimillion-dollar investment that New Seasons is making at Seven Corners. They seem to feel a God-given entitlement to the grocery business because, well, they're special.

I applaud New Seasons, Peter Perrin and Starbucks for risking capital on an intersection with vacant run-down buildings on four of its seven corners. If the Red and Black Collective have a better option for the space, let them build a business plan, sell it to a bank and make a better offer for the property. That's how it works! In the meantime, let me make my own decisions about which businesses deserve to succeed in my neighborhood. If Starbucks is a threat to your collective, make a better cup of coffee!

David Kaplan
Southeast Elliott Avenue

TASER TASTE

I've read both articles about our taser-happy police ["Taser Crazy?" and "Tasing 'Hell'"], but I haven't seen anything about what their taser training involves. Do the police, during their 10 hours of training (which sounds pretty inadequate for this new technology), get to experience firsthand the effects of being blasted by a taser? If not, why not?

Certainly if a reporter is willing to try it to validate what he may be reporting, the trainees should be willing to do the same. Experiential learning is a wonderful tool; if it isn't in the taser training curriculum, then let's put it in.

Carrie Costello
Northeast 38th Avenue

Nick Budnick responds: Portland's 10-hour taser training is in excess of many other agencies', which often require just four hours. Every Portland Police Officer who is taser-trained is recommended to undergo a taste of the taser. Though it is not required, every taser-trained officer so far has done so voluntarily, according to the Police Bureau. About half of the training consists of sitting through an informational PowerPoint presentation; officers also fire off several rounds of cartridges and do drills such as when the device malfunctions. They also do scenarios in which they react, decide whether to use the taser, and then, afterward, justify their use of the taser.