So the northwest corner of St. Johns has had no homicides in three years, most of the crimes are simple assaults, and the police say crime is declining ["Night & Day," WW, July 5, 2006]. In spite of all this, your reporter (who probably doesn't live here) has officially decreed us Portland's most scary place.

This seems to be what passes for journalism everywhere in America these days: go to an exotic location with your cameras and notebooks, interview people you don't know and strike fear into your readers, because fear is a useful marketing tool.

This is a city. Crime usually happens in cities. It happens for reasons your reporter largely ignored.

On the other hand, I probably should thank Ms. [Angela] Valdez. We moved to St. Johns years ago precisely because it was not chic and sexy. Since then, we've been overrun by the same white colonials who have invaded every formerly quiet neighborhood and "improved" it. With any luck, her article will frighten such people enough to prevent more of them from moving here and improving us to death.

Curtis E. Bryant
North Crawford Street

CODE BREAKER

Just wanted to thank you for the Rogue of the Week profile on Kaiser Permanente's and Oregon Health & Science University's nondescript letters regarding my genetic code [Rogue of the Week, WW, June 21, 2006].

Your column got it right: That letter was totally nondescript. So much so, in fact, that when I saw the words about biological samples, I assumed that the purpose of the mailer was to give me the option to participate. I tossed it in the recycling and didn't think twice about it. It never occurred to me those sly bastards would feel free to use my personal "biology" without my express consent.

So, thanks to your "word to the wise" (or unwise, as my ignorance and blind faith that corporations have good intentions seems to demonstrate), I was able to pull that mailer from the recycling and send it on its way.

Jessica Sweeney
Southwest 3rd Avenue

CLARIFICATION

Last week's "Sweetheart Deal?" should have made clear that J. Daniel Steffey, the husband of Multnomah County Commissioner Maria Rojo de Steffey, works for Guardian Management as the company's director of affordable housing development. He is not an owner of Guardian Management.