Comments on: Homeboy’s Virtual Carwash……and the Mayor’s Office

By: Ruben Gonzalez

Ruben Gonzalez — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:22:42 +0000

Janet,Janet, janet,

I’m 37 years old. I have 3 wonderful children, I’ve been married for 19 years and I’m a Financial Advisor for a very respectful firm. None of this would be if it wasn’t for Father Boyle! I am one of those kids you’re talking about and by the way you don’t understand. My family thanks and loves him and Homeboy Industries because without him and this program ” I would be dead or in prison for life!” Father Boyle showed me love I had no idea existed. He showed me there was more to life than just the projects. He gave me the tools to survive and I will tell you I slipped quite a few times but I got up and finally made it. I too encourage you to come down and spend some time with these kids that just need someone to give them support and maybe just a few kind words. You know it’s kind of hard to live in the projects as a parent and tell your kids they should go to college when most of there friends are dying before they turn 16. We are not monsters!!! Someone along they way has failed us and all these kids need is for someone else beside Father G to give them direction. I owe my life to G-dog . that;s right. I love that man and don’t ever give up on us. Love an Older Homie..

By: Rob Thomas

Rob Thomas — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 08:40:10 +0000

so this is a “virtual carwash”? does that mean there won’t be any muscular, wet, homeboy’s in daisy dukes washing cars?

By: Scott Johnson

Scott Johnson — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:25:11 +0000

Was Father Boyle a member of City Attorney Carmen Trutanich’s Transition Team ??

This may explain why Villaraigosa has gone back on his “so-call word”.

BTW, not all is kosher with the current recipiants of GRYD contracts.

By: Celeste Fremon

Celeste Fremon — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:51:48 +0000

“Those people that have been arrested or killed out of his organization were choices made by those individuals. Father – G provided them tools and skills, if they decided to drop those skills or just use G’s programs to look good – that was on them.”

Well, said, P. Thank you. Have a great time in Mexico, whether it’s work or relaxation.

And thanks to Reg and Jeff and the other virtual carwashees!

By: reg

reg — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:49:19 +0000

Done.

This good effort jogged the thought that, assuming there was some nugget of sincerity regarding “the children, etc. etc.” in the Jackson saga, how that memorial could have been turned into a tremendous opportunity to raise resources and awareness for some charitable and outreach organizations to help children and teens in trouble. What a fucking waste ! Sorry goddamned spectacle of narcissism and self-pity of, by and for the undeserving and obsessive that actually robbed LA of the ability to fund the meager programs that exist…

By: poplockerone

poplockerone — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:43:21 +0000

I’m going to make this fast ..I’m at a terminal boarding a plane to Mexico…
Janet – you can ask Celeste and she will tell you that I’m on the opposite side of the tracks on many of her views regarding certain gang interventionist programs. I know the real truth behind a handful of them and its not a pretty story. Honestly, no matter what anyone tells you, LA City Hall and the County Supervisors have a bunch of dumb ass politicians and advisors who know nothing of how to curb Gang Violence in Los Angles. Worst, they get their advice from a bunch of criminals connected to the Mexican Mafia or crooked Community activist trying to get media attention and free money.
But, out of all of the programs out there, I can honestly tell you that Father – G’s donated money goes exactly where it should go – every cent goes back into the community.
I support Father G – 100%.
When I shake his hand – I hug him and tears fall from my eyes. I love that man – not because on what his mission stands for – but for believing in people that have nothing – nothing but dreams. I met Father G many many years back at Dolores Mission and since those years I’ve watched him grow – he has never changed one bit.
Those people that have been arrested or killed out of his organization where choices made by those individuals. Father – G provided them tools and skills, if they decided to drop those skills or just use G’s programs to look good – that was on them. I can not say the same for a lot of these other organizations – their presidents or directors are crooked as their workers.
I say more later…i have to run

By: Celeste Fremon

Celeste Fremon — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:30:45 +0000

With all due respect, Janet, until you’ve gone over and spent time at Homeboy, which you can do easily, you don’t know what you’re talking about. That’s the same crap I hear over and over from people who’ve never set foot in the organization and somehow think that a kid who has joined a gang is no longer from the same species as the rest of us, and may be judged as treated as such.

Yes, of course there are people who back slide. DUH! Recovery of ANY KIND—be it from alcohol, drugs, over eating or gangs—is four steps forward, three and a half back. Welcome to the human race.

As for the kid who was killed last month, how and why he was killed was at once tragic, heartbreaking and emotionally complicated—AND not for the reasons you imply. He was a great kid with a smile as big as the world. His death was devastating to all who knew him. I read some of the last poetry he wrote shortly before he died and it split my heart in two.

I can’t tell you the number of people who are alive because of Homeboy. As the people who say that “gang members don’t want a new start” are….well, I can’t think of a civil way to reply to that statement without swearing copiously.

Janet, I respect you. I think you know that by now. But please, please, please go to Homeboy, take the tour, talk to whomever you want there. Until then all you’re doing is repeating vicious, wrong-headed rumors that at best illuminate and help nothing and, at worst, do damage.

By: Woody

Woody — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:17:11 +0000

L.A’s mayor is holding a “car wash” to pay for Michael Jackson’s memorial service.

…The event was slated to cost more than $3.5 million and ate away at most of L.A.’s ‘extraordinary event’ budget.

And to recoup some of the money used on the memorial, L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has called on Jackson devotees to pay a donation to the state.

He wrote on his Twitter.com page, “Help the city of Angels provide the extraordinary public safety resources required to give Michael the safe, orderly and respectful memorial he deserves. “If you’re a Michael fan, consider giving a small donation to help us celebrate his extraordinary life and music.”

…An online PayPal account has been set up for fans to donate towards the memorial service, with officials insisting all payments are tax-deductible. (Not likely)

In L.A., dead pedophiles get more respect than homeless and jobless people who served their sentences.

BTW, my own from take many months ago was that Homeboy Industries constructed a new home that was more expensive and extravagant than was necessary. With that and lost future revenues, there seems to have been a lot of poor financial planning. Maybe they should train their workers to become accountants.

By: Janet

Janet — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:54:01 +0000

I recently spoke to a worker at Homeboy and he told me its amazing this organization has so many fooled. He mentioned the black ex gang member worker who was killed because its hard to leave the gang life. People in the community will tell you these gang members don’t want a new start. They are active and are still terrorizing neighborhoods. Father Boyle continues to try but he’s coddled them for so long he’s lost control. This is the reason many who use to support the org. no longer do. The education needs to start in the home not at Homeboy. Its too late then.

By: Jeff Levine

Jeff Levine — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:07:00 +0000

just got my “car washed” too. Thanks for the info Celeste.