Father Boyle’s Glendale Appearance:
Layoff Editorial Preview


One week ago today Homeboy Industries founder Father Gregory Boyle was at the Glendale Public Library speaking about his book Tattoos on the Heart, and about the jobs, life skills, and hope his organization gives to former gang members.

He urged the large audience in Glendale that night to buy copies of his book instead of borrowing it, as all proceeds support Homeboy Industries. He also questioned public priorities, such as a new endowment for the Museum of Contemporary Art, the preservation of the Hollywood sign, and funding for animal shelters, while people struggling to leave a life of crime get little attention or help.

Two days later, Homeboy Industries announced it had to lay off most of its staff, although its core businesses will remain open. The next day, at the Los Angeles Public Library, Father Boyle echoed the talking points above (from LAist):

“The question for our city is really, who are we wiling to rescue?” Boyle continued with observations about other things saved by the public, like the Hollywood Sign and local art. “We are willing to rescue the Museum of Contemporary Art — I love MOCA — but $30 million and $30 million matched, and we both sounded the alarm at the same time, that’s a $60 million endowment. That’s not city, county, state, that’s people. And trust me, no animal shelter in L.A. County will ever be in danger of closing its doors, ever. And I don’t begrudge that, I think that’s fine, but it says as a society that a Warhol, the Hollywood Sign and a puppy are worth more than the 12,000 human beings like Louis who walk through our doors every year. That doesn’t get me angry, that just gets me sad, but that’s the way it is.”

The lagging support for Homeboy Industries in comparison with other LA charities was mentioned again by Tim Rutten in Saturday’s LA Times. Father Boyle’s question is a fair one: What matters more, current icons or living souls?