Comments on: Coffee Maven Cho Faces 40 Years in Prison

By: Tom Bridge

Tom Bridge — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:30:48 +0000

It’s taxes in this case, Will. And Nick’s shop, Murky Coffee (the DC location on Capitol Hill) was seized and closed because he did not track sales taxes, a requirement of doing business in DC.

Do Sales taxes in DC go to the municipal government? Yes, they do, to whom else would they go?

It’s surely legal for a municipality to not collect a municipality tax, but they still have to collect state sales taxes. That’s the law. You’re welcome to talk to your state legislator about it.

By: will frith

will frith — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:17:01 +0000

“not paying your taxes” I can totally understand. that’s where the discussion should have ended.

“tracking your obligations to the community that you live in” sounds like it could be anything from taxes to karma points to paying off your dealer in a timely manner.

but i guess the drama of discussion forums wouldn’t sound as exciting if we just focused on the issue at hand, would it?

speaking of red herrings, why is it ok for a state (ie- oregon) to declare non-sales-tax status? do sales taxes in DC go to municipal gov’t? is it legal for municipalities all over the US to either institute or strike down a sales tax? why only states?

By: Tom Bridge

Tom Bridge — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:09:39 +0000

Not paying your taxes and tracking your obligations to the community that you live in.

By: will frith

will frith — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:47:55 +0000

I can’t speak to the legal issues, but all the ad hominem attacks!?! The junk-punch issue is old news, happened one time, on a discussion board AFTER the customer threatened to burn down the cafe over a silly fru-fru drink. And can anyone commenting on “shady business practices” please clarify with anything factual? Or is this another case of web-mob-mentality?

(when i hear phrases like “shady business practices,” i think of human trafficking, putting toxic waste into rivers, wiping out swaths of forest for cattle ranching, etc.)

I’ve met Nick on a few occasions and he was nothing but friendly, genuine and honest (I guess the “honest” part is what you folks don’t like, because he is so forthcoming with his opinions). So what if he’s an elitist coffee snob?! Isn’t everyone involved in Specialty Coffee a snob on some level? I can safely assume that y’all wouldn’t be happy with drinking instant/Folger’s/Hills Bros/etc. Just remember, any time we talk about “educating the consumer,” we’re being snobs.

So, really, what’s the issue here?

By: Tiffany Bridge

Tiffany Bridge — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:39:40 +0000

Again, Cho doesn’t own Chinatown Coffee. He was a consultant.

By: 555 Mass Resident

555 Mass Resident — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:47:55 +0000

I’m so glad to see this clown finally facing legal punishment for years of shady business practices. My guess is Chinatown Coffee will be closed by Christmas and hopefully we get a reputable business owner in our neighborhood.

By: TheDenverite

TheDenverite — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:34:32 +0000

Hmmm… looks like Cho’s arrest doesn’t eliminate the elitist jerk quotient from posting here. Pity.

By: joey jojo

joey jojo — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:54:03 +0000

he was merely trying to save you orange-mocha-crappuccino people from yourself. if you want iced espresso, go to starbucks.

By: Nichole

Nichole — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:15:42 +0000

I’ve gotta be honest, I’m not sad about this at all. It feels like sweet, sweet karma to me. This guy is a big ‘ol bag of suck. But hey, the federal prison probably won’t serve espresso over ice either.

By: Greg McElhatton

Greg McElhatton — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:06:30 +0000

I can’t wait for the junk-punch defense strategy.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:05:51 +0000

Sic semper junkpuncherus.