Homeboy Industries — Attraction in Los Angeles

First, I think it's great there's an organization that provides free laser tattoo removal treatments to people who need it most. But...

• People are coming to Homeboy for up to 30 treatments to remove tattoos that can be done in 5. *

I've had several tattoos removed at a few different clinics over the years. I know how to tell a good clinic from a bad one.

Normally, the hardest tattoos to remove (like professionally done, dense black tribals for example) can take up to 12 sessions to remove. The easiest to remove are "homemade" (or prison) tattoos, like you often see at Homeboy, which can be done in around 5.

I know some clinics will keep their equipment on weaker settings to keep you coming back (and paying) for more... but I don't think that's what's happening here since it's a free service. So I think it's a lack of training/experienced staff. I know they have doctors doing the treatments, but that's unusual, you don't need a medical license to do laser tattoo removal (and they definitely don't teach it in med school). You do however need a lot of training, and legitimate laser tattoo removal clinics spend hundreds of hours training their staff on the equipment and procedures.

Equipment settings (like depth and energy) need to be adjusted for each tattoo (sometimes every few inches) and each treatment. Clearly, that's not happening here at Homeboy.

I'm sure the volunteers at Homeboy mean well, and I know it's a free service, but the management needs to do something about this to spare people the additional YEARS of wasted time and painful sessions they have to endure because of not receiving the...

While traveling and after helping a friend and his family, I found myself in front of the homeboys bakery in lax. Having met Father Greg, and him having passed with flying colors some heavy questions I presented, I had a good impression of this BUSINESS.

All outreach I've ever encountered, save one (the midnight mission, downtown Los Angeles) has been nothing but a cash cow for a few "organizers," and a marketing machine to perpetuate the income. I am sad to report that I no longer will support or promote homeboys industries. I too, feel it is a front for unrestrained greed and as a shelter for shady people to prey on those less fortunate.

I came to this conclusion because when I asked the two staff that were at the store if they helped people at the end of the day, one flatly said no, and the other open mouth laughed AT me. No indication that the food they are required to dispose of every day is donated or earmarked for anything (or anyone) else. No inquiry relative to my plight or my ability, no assessment of my need. None. Just a cold shutdown and humiliation. At the end of the day, while exhausted, broke, and wishing I was home already.

Those two representatives, and I'm sure the policies they were standing under, lost my patronage and participation forever. If you claim Christian values and fail to live them, while simultaneously making a fortune through the claims, you're the most vile of scum known to man.

Goodbye homeboy industries. May you actually find the strength and the integrity to actually be as you...

I believe that spending money locally strengthens a community. And without a doubt giving the less fortunate an opportunity to learn a skill and earn an honest living benefits every society. So I was very dissappointed when homeboys silk screen attempted to con or steal one of my designs from me. I could have let them go with it and called the cops. I just shook my head and told the bottom feeder if you only knew all the negativity that will come from your selfish blind choice. I am 1 of the few people that does business in northern and southern california, the hoods of arizona, along the heavy armed hoods of texas to bring a positive influence to the darker side of Americas neighborhoods. I highly recommend not doing any business with the shady silk screen homeboy industry. I have just given another LA company a 17,000 deposit on my hat line. That money could have been homeboyz. But the staff in that building are dishonorable...