I am co-owner of Sly Salon in Denver, the ones who gave free haircuts to the homeless on Tuesday. There has been TONS of inaccurate news being spread about this and I am sending this to help clarify the misinformation.And from TalkLeft, this story discusses it further....The fact is that the City of Denver is not giving out movie tickets, bus passes, museum tickets or zoo passes to Denver's homeless residents. The "Homeless not Hopeless Cut-A-Thon" was conceived and created by Sly's Salon and was in no way sponsored by the City of Denver. Tickets were distributed by Sly's Salon and not from the City of Denver or Denver Human Services. All costs involved with having the Cut-A-Thon on the 18th were incurred entirely by Sly's Salon and the stylists that agreed to donated their time and services for the event. Any help you can provide in clearing up this misinformation will be greatly appreciated. END
Denver Salon Gives Free Haircuts to Homeless for Convention
By Jeralyn, Section Democratic National Convention 2008
Posted on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 07:01:00 AM EST
Tags: Democratic National Convention (all tags)
CBS4 Denver reports Sly's Salon in Denver is providing free haircuts to the homeless in advance of the Democratic Convention. The effort was organized by Denver Human Services.
It seems to be a first -- don't move the homeless, clean them up. That was the work of one salon and the recipients didn't even seem to care if the Democrats were coming to town. Sly's Salon at 17th and Grant was offering free haircuts to the homeless Monday. "To give them haircuts and make them all spiffed up for the Democratic National Convention, because they are part of our community as well," said Ghandia Gohnson, co-owner of Sly's Salon.
One of the recipients said she doesn't care about the convention, she just wants to look good. [More...]
Nancy Kohfahl said she became homeless after becoming a victim of domestic abuse. She didn't care that the Democrats were coming to Denver. She said it was a chance to get back on her feet. "I wanted to look good for Nancy and now I do," Kohfahl said. "I'm looking for a job interview and a job and to get off the homeless streets of Denver."
CBS 4 Denver also reports there's some evidence police are cracking down on the homeless.
A businessman came up to CBS4's Rick Sallinger and suggested doing a story on how police are now cracking down on the homeless in the Park Avenue area. A minute later several squad cars drove up and began questioning people. One man was handcuffed, but later released.
Another approach: Free movie and museum passes and mass transit tickets. Denver police deny they are trying to hide the homeless:
Where are we going to hide our homeless during the convention? The short answer: We don't hide the homeless -- ever," Denver police and homeless advocates said in Denver's newspaper written by the homeless. The city says it is encouraging the homeless to take part in the convention week activities for the public.
