San Jose city officials cited Lighthouse Food Rescue & Distribution on September 25, threatening fines up to $20,000 a day and ordering the nonprofit to halt operations within 60 days. The citation states that the food pantry, located at the corner of East Julian and North 17th streets in the Northside neighborhood, is operating on the sidewalk and is no longer a permitted use in the area due to recent zoning changes.
Pastor Ralph Olmos, president and CEO of Lighthouse, confirmed the city has currently waived the potential fines and is working to assist him in finding a new location. Despite this, Olmos expressed concern about the sudden compliance order, noting that he was not informed of the zoning changes enacted in September 2022. These changes, part of a city-wide rezoning in response to state development requirements, reclassified social service groups like Lighthouse as impermissible in the Northside neighborhood.
The food pantry, founded by Olmos in 2020 during the pandemic, serves more than 1,000 people five days a week, from noon to 5 p.m. Its central location, accessible by public transit, attracts residents from across San Jose and surrounding areas. Olmos stated he continues to see the same level of need today as when he first started.
However, the scale of Lighthouse's operation has drawn significant complaints from some neighbors. Robert Wright, a 75-year-old board member for the Julian-St. James Neighborhood Association, initially supported Lighthouse when it began. Over time, as complaints mounted, his stance shifted. Wright reported issues including blocked driveways, discarded food, people urinating and defecating in the area, and sidewalks becoming impassable during food distributions. Wright, who stated about 60 neighbors have complained, noted that his wife, who uses a wheelchair, cannot use the sidewalk in front of the pantry. He stated, "it’s pretty universal that people want them to go because they’ve clearly been a public nuisance."
Councilmember Anthony Tordillos, whose District 3 includes the Northside neighborhood, agreed that the current site is not appropriate for the operation's scale due to code violations and neighborhood concerns. However, he emphasized his desire for Lighthouse to remain within District 3, highlighting the area's concentration of residents experiencing homelessness. Tordillos has maintained that the goal is not to shut down food distribution but to find a more suitable location that better serves both Lighthouse and local residents.
Not all neighbors wish for Lighthouse to leave. Onésimo, an 82-year-old resident living near the food pantry, reported that people in line are generally quiet and that Olmos addresses problems when they arise. He also noted that Olmos has marked the ground to ensure half of the sidewalk remains open for pedestrian use, improving the issue of blocked pathways. One woman, who travels from Santa Clara by bus twice a week, described Lighthouse as a "lifeline" since she was laid off over a year ago. While acknowledging neighbor inconveniences, she stressed the importance of access to food.
Operating Lighthouse costs Olmos between $5,000 and $6,000 monthly, with no employees on payroll, including himself. This financial strain makes long-term planning difficult for the organization. Olmos, who feels constant stress from trying to manage monthly bills and now zoning issues, expressed a desire to expand operations to establish food distribution hubs in underserved areas across Santa Clara County. He described the current situation as difficult, feeling "pushed against the wall" as Lighthouse's growing popularity indicates a need to outgrow its present space.
