[NFBSF] A Call for Accountability and Hope at the Lighthouse

[Daveed Mandell]

A Call for Accountability and Hope at the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired of San Francisco
By Tony Lewis
 
 Last night, nearly 150 people attended a Board meeting of the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired of San Francisco via Zoom. That number is remarkable, considering Board meetings are usually routine affairs focused on agency reports and Board updates.
 
 But this meeting was different.
 
 The attendees included former and current employees, students past and present, and concerned members of the blind low vision and deafblind communities. What brought everyone together was a deep desire for clarity—and accountability—regarding the $125 million gifted to the LightHouse nearly a decade ago. That money, once seen as a transformative opportunity, is now gone. And with it, dozens of dedicated employees—many of whom provided direct services to blind and newly blind adults and children—have been let go.
 
 During public comment, speaker after speaker asked the same haunting question:
 "How could you let this happen, and where is the accountability?"
 
 The answer was silence. Or worse—vague justifications.
 
 To those in the room, the reality was clear: The Board had rubber-stamped questionable projects, supported an inflated administrative structure with top-heavy salaries, and in the end, allowed the loss of deeply respected staff—people who were the heart of the LightHouse, providing skill training, mentorship, and hope.
 
 Despite these losses, the audience noted that a bloated upper management team remains. One woman said it best during the public comment period:
 "The LightHouse must operate with a skeleton administration if it wants to rebuild trust. The focus needs to shift back to problem-solving and truly serving the needs of the community."
 
 We also learned that at least one high-level manager is currently working remotely from the East Coast—drawing a California-sized salary. Why was this position protected in the recent layoff? This is not just an issue of optics; it's a matter of fairness and financial responsibility.
 
 Many of us came to this meeting because we care deeply about the LightHouse. It has been a part of the Bay Area for over 120 years. At a community forum just days ago, people shared story after story of how the LightHouse had helped them rebuild their lives after vision loss. The agency has been a lifeline.
 
 But to become that lifeline again, real change is needed—starting at the top. While the Board wants to keep the interim CEO in place until next April, the community believes a nationwide search should begin immediately, with the goal of appointing a permanent leader by the end of this year. We cannot afford to wait.
 
 We invite you to join us for a rally on Thursday, June 12, at 12:00 PM PST in front of the LightHouse's main headquarters, at 1155 Market St. We'll be there to demand stronger leadership, fiscal accountability, and the removal of unjustified remote administrative positions.
 
 The LightHouse may have to become a leaner organization in the short term—but that doesn't mean it has to be weaker. We don't want this vital community resource to disappear. We want it to heal, rebuild, and once again shine as a beacon of hope for the blind and deafblind communities.
 
 Please stand with us.
 Talk to reporters.
 Write letters to your local newspapers.
 And join our efforts to bring the LightHouse back to what it was:
 A place of adjustment.
 A place of empowerment.