By Josie Wales
An Arizona cosmetology student is currently being investigated for giving free haircuts to the homeless. Juan Carlos Montesdeoca has been giving away free haircuts to homeless individuals at Santa Rita park in Tucson and recently organized an event called Haircuts for the Homeless at a local library, during which he offered free haircuts and manicures to the homeless people of Tucson.
Montesdeoca has been homeless in the past and wanted to do his part to help the community in any way he could. The cosmetology student says he was inspired to offer his services after he helped cut hair for a woman with cancer. “I started this as an act of kindness for a mom I met on Tucson Angels Facebook group,” he says. He also does it in memory of his mother, who lost her hair.
He decided to take his talents to the streets when his Regency Beauty school shut down last September, but he was shocked when he found out he was being investigated by the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology for practicing without a license. “They can suspend – even before I even try to get a license, they can say no. That would be very very unfortunate,” he says.
Donna Aune, the state board’s executive director, told Tucson News Now they stand by the words in the state statute that say, in part, that “A person shall not perform or attempt to perform cosmetology without a license or practice in any place other than in a licensed salon,” and that an unlicensed person cutting hair outside a licensed salon is a “real risk.”
Unfortunately, legislation is making it more and more difficult for communities to aid the homeless in any way. From making it illegal to feed the hungry to ripping down shelters and stealing blankets, government agencies not only refuse to help but actively prevent others from doing so. It’s absurd to think Juan Carlos Montesdeoca poses a threat to his community by offering free haircuts to those living on the streets. Sadly, the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology disagrees.
More abuse of power …. shameless
Reporter: Mr. Gandhi, what do you think of Western Civilization?
Mr. Gandhi: I think it would be a good idea!
This is so petty and mean. How do these bureaurats(sic) live with themselves? How do they treat their spouses and children? I judge these sort of acts by how I would feel about myself if I was doing them. I’d feel small and crabbed inside. Don’t like that feeling at all!
Trevor they have NO EMPATHY!!
They must be on Tylenol!
This is BS. It’s his time and has no bearing on a license. He’s not practising anything for profit. Get a grip people!
Yes, darlene, a lot of people in this world are crazy and a lot of people in power have NO EMPATHY. You do have, so that is GOOD!
They want an ugly World, like the ugliness in their heads, can’t say ugliness in their soul because they don’t have one.
Hi strawberrytart, You are right they have no EMPATHY, but Juan does and so do the people who support and agree with Juan. They want ugly, we want BEAUTIFUL and by our actions we can achieve it. Good is stronger than evil. We do good without any reward, pure and strong.
The Arizona State Board of Cosmetology should give Juan a MEDAL and give him a CASH reward for being a WONDERFUL human being who acts on his EMPATHY and his LOVE by giving to people less fortunate. He is an upstanding person. I LOVE him. Donna Aune you should be ashamed of yourself!!!
Hi Gazoo, they don’t have any EMPATHY, they are not balanced individuals, that’s for sure. How lovely is Juan though!!
They literally worship the devil. Check out Russianvids on YouYube.
The Cosmetology representatives are only interested in money and preserving their turf. They don’t give a hoot about poor, homeless people and never will. This use of a law meant to regulate a commercial service for compensation should not govern here otherwise a person cutting their own hair at home would be in jeopardy of charges!