WHY WE ADVOCATE

We advocate on behalf of Point Loman business and residents to make our community as livable and enjoyable as possible — both for today and our beautiful outlook for generations to come.

HOW WE ADVOCATE

We have the ear of city, county and state political leaders, SDPD, U.S. Navy leaders, Unified Port officials, California Coastal Commission, City Planning Department, Parks and Recreation Department. We listen to you — Point Loma businesses and residents alike — and as one unified voice take your questions, concerns and ideas directly to influencers and decision makers to preserve the things we value in our community, or to spur action to bring about the change we are seeking. We also acknowledge, award and support those who improve our quality of life.

MAGNIFYING YOUR VOICE

Throughout our six decades of community advocacy, we’ve established rapport with local organizations, officials and leaders to improve our quality of life on the Point. We regularly communicate with city, county and state political leaders, SDPD, U.S. Navy leaders, Unified Port officials, the California Coastal Commission, City Planning Department, and Parks and Recreation Department to address community questions and concerns. We’re persistent. We work diligently to get answers and resolutions to the issues that matter most to Point Loma community members. We believe that our voices are more powerful when united. We can accomplish more and faster as a collective group than as separate individuals.

Let us know if you have any questions or concerns regarding quality of life in Point Loma. We’ll get to work for you!

REWARDING BEAUTIFICATION

During the year and at the annual fundraiser, the PLA recognizes community members, residents and businesses for outstanding service and beautification efforts.

PLA members give the Garden Award to residents who are making our community more beautiful with vivid landscaping. The awardees are featured in the PLA newsletter, and the year’s awardees receive special recognition at our annual fundraiser.

CELEBRATING GREATNESS

2024 COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD - CLARK BURLINGAME

Clark Anthony Burlingame has been a beloved figure in the San Diego media landscape, known for his engaging presence on both television and radio over a career that spanned several decades. Born with a passion for storytelling and a natural charisma, Burlingame quickly made a name for himself as one of the most recognizable voices and faces in Southern California broadcasting.

Since arriving in San Diego in 1973 Clark worked for several San Diego TV and radio stations over the years, where he covered everything from local news and community events to human interest stories, always with a sense of sincerity and warmth that endeared him to viewers. Many of us feel like we grew up with Clark in our homes, cars, and workplaces through his media presence.

Clark made his home in Point Loma in 1976 and raised his family here. He has given freely of his time to many non-profits, including United Way/CHAD, Downtown Rotary, and being a reader to 4th graders at Sherman Elementary School.

But in Point Loma Clark is most appreciated for his service with the Point Loma Association. Clark served as the Chairman in 2015 to 2017, and since then has faithfully published the Peninsula News newsletter every week, keeping the community informed of news, current events, and the Point Loma Association activities around the Point. Over 2000 households subscribe to his entertaining and informative newsletter. The newsletter is a critical way for the Point Loma Association to keep members informed and accomplish our projects in the community.

Please join us in honoring Clark for his dedication to keeping the Point Loma community informed. Clark truly is “the voice of Point Loma.”

2023 COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD - JT BARR

The Point Loma Association would like to recognize a member of our community who exemplifies what it means to be a Point Loman. This year's Community Champion award goes to JT Barr, landscape architect, president and managing partner of Schmidt Design. JT is a loving husband, father of two, local business owner and served on the board of the Point Loma Association for 6 years. As he and his fellow Point Loma friends say, "Point Loma for Life!"

JT joined the Point Loma Association in 2016 because he wanted to do good for the community he proudly calls home. Once a board member, he quickly formed the "projects" committee with some big ideas of making our beloved community the best it could be. One of those ideas was the Village Lights over Rosecrans, which would help défine a "village" feel in Point Loma. Over the next 4 years, with the generosity of our devoted community, help from other key board members, various city officials and hundreds of JT's own professional and personal hours, this community project became a reality.

While managing the Village Lights project, JT gave frequent presentations to the association board, city officials and the community, all with his signature grace and humor. This led to overwhelming support for the project. More than 250 individuals and businesses contributed financially towards creating the Village Lights legacy.

Please join us in honoring JT Barr for his tireless efforts and persistence in making this community project a reality for the entire Point Loma community to enjoy for years to come. Thank you JT.

2019 COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD • GREG COX

The County of San Diego recognizes and encourages the work of Point Loma Association volunteers through grants and assistance for our community projects. Geographically, our Peninsula is in two county districts — #1 and #4. Supervisor Ron Roberts, who we saluted at last year’s dinner, and Supervisor Greg Cox, who we salute this year, have been especially supportive. Ron Roberts termed out in 2019. Greg Cox completes his tenure in 2020. Supervisor Cox has been our ally since first elected 1995. Recently he recommended — and the County Board approved — $60,000 in Neighborhood Reinvestment Funds toward our Village Lights project. We have also worked together on PLA commemorative street benches, banner hanging and landscaping maintenance. This year we salute County Supervisor Greg Cox with the PLA Community Champion Award. Greg was instrumental in supporting our work at Ed’s Triangle at the end of I-5 and the beautification of Nimitz Boulevard median entering the Peninsula. 

2018 COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD • RON ROBERTS

During our Annual Dinner Party on October 16, 2018 we recognized Ron Roberts who has been very generous to the PLA during more than 30 years of service representing our community as City Councilmember and, for the past 24 years, County Supervisor. Ron retired, so we created a unique award called, Community Champion, for helping PLA volunteers design a better life for the people of the Point Loma Peninsula. Prior to his political career, Ron was an architect. He worked for Dick Lareau, who gave us the inspiration for the award design. The background is a vintage Lareau sketch of proposed improvements to the Point Loma Village from years ago. Thank you, Dick. And a very special thank you to Ron Roberts!

Nominate someone for the PLA Community Champion Award

PROMOTING CULTURE

The Point Loma Association uses a portion of our membership dues to support other charitable organizations, usually by purchasing PLA advertising at fundraising events or community programs. This allows us to showcase our volunteer organization while reserving all funds donated to us for use on projects within the scope of our mission.