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

[Lisa Irving]

Voiceover is announcing a whole lot of symbols and numbers when reading the text it is highly distracting and difficult to understand some aspects of the text please, can the original poster clean up this message. Not sure if there is some weird coding that is being recognized by assistive technology. Thank you.

On Jun 6, 2025, at 11:25 AM, Daveed Mandell via NFBSF <nfbsf at nfbnet.org> wrote:

A Call for Accountability and Hope at the LightHouse for the Blind and Visu=
ally Impaired of San Francisco
By Tony Lewis
=20
Last night, nearly 150 people attended a Board meeting of the LightHouse f=
or the Blind and Visually Impaired of San Francisco via Zoom. That number i=
s remarkable, considering Board meetings are usually routine affairs focuse=
d on agency reports and Board updates.
=20
But this meeting was different.
=20
The attendees included former and current employees, students past and pre=
sent, and concerned members of the blind low vision and deafblind communiti=
es. What brought everyone together was a deep desire for clarity=E2=80=94an=
d accountability=E2=80=94regarding the $125 million gifted to the LightHous=
e nearly a decade ago. That money, once seen as a transformative opportunit=
y, is now gone. And with it, dozens of dedicated employees=E2=80=94many of =
whom provided direct services to blind and newly blind adults and children=
=E2=80=94have been let go.
=20
During public comment, speaker after speaker asked the same haunting quest=
ion:
"How could you let this happen, and where is the accountability?"
=20
The answer was silence. Or worse=E2=80=94vague justifications.
=20
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 st=
aff=E2=80=94people who were the heart of the LightHouse, providing skill tr=
aining, mentorship, and hope.
=20
Despite these losses, the audience noted that a bloated upper management t=
eam 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."
=20
We also learned that at least one high-level manager is currently working =
remotely from the East Coast=E2=80=94drawing a California-sized salary. Why=
was this position protected in the recent layoff? This is not just an issu=
e of optics; it's a matter of fairness and financial responsibility.
=20
Many of us came to this meeting because we care deeply about the LightHous=
e. It has been a part of the Bay Area for over 120 years. At a community fo=
rum just days ago, people shared story after story of how the LightHouse ha=
d helped them rebuild their lives after vision loss. The agency has been a =
lifeline.
=20
But to become that lifeline again, real change is needed=E2=80=94starting =
at the top. While the Board wants to keep the interim CEO in place until ne=
xt April, the community believes a nationwide search should begin immediate=
ly, with the goal of appointing a permanent leader by the end of this year.=
We cannot afford to wait.
=20
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 b=
e there to demand stronger leadership, fiscal accountability, and the remov=
al of unjustified remote administrative positions.
=20
The LightHouse may have to become a leaner organization in the short term=
=E2=80=94but that doesn't mean it has to be weaker. We don't want this vita=
l community resource to disappear. We want it to heal, rebuild, and once ag=
ain shine as a beacon of hope for the blind and deafblind communities.
=20
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.
=20
=20

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