A born again Peninsulan, Andrea Schlageter has returned from Boston University to become a civic activist, which seems apropos as more women than ever are becoming politically involved.
An almost-native Point Loman (she lived in north PB with her family until kindergarten), Andrea is a product of local schools – Dana Elementary, High Tech Middle and Point Loma High School. She’s returned with a degree in political science and international relations. 
Her ultimate career goal is to someday work for the U.S. State Department, perhaps even as an overseas diplomat.
But in the meantime, she’s back in town for the foreseeable future, doing some contract work and volunteering in community groups.
Now chair of the Ocean Beach Planning Board, Schlageter is excited to focus on public service while developing a “closer relationship between Point Loma and Ocean Beach communities.”
How’s her stint as board chair been so far?
“I’m learning a lot about things close to my heart and other issues, and it’s helped my critical-thinking skills,” she answered. “I’ve been enjoying listening to everyone’s point of view, whether or not I agree with them. I like trying to help people find solutions. I’ve always been solution-oriented.”
Schlageter points to a local mentor she’s been inspired by.
“Dave Martin has been instrumental in uniting the Point to become more one voice lobbying the city for things we need, as opposed to multiple voices,” she said.
Schlageter’s also volunteered with the nonprofit Point Loma Association. She agreed recently to chair the PLA’s new Public Safety Committee.
“I’ve been concerned about the rise in transient crime in OB and the seeming crime spree the past few months,” she said. “The short-term solution is more foot cops and just more vigilance. But I’d like to help the community find longer-term solutions.”
The new OB Planning Board chair talked about two other hot-button issues – parking and Airbnb –that she’d like to see more fully addressed.
“They go hand-in-hand in our heavily impacted neighborhoods near the beach,” she said, noting parking is so tight in the Peninsula, residents are vying with tourists for increasingly limited parking space.
Schlagater opposes relaxing parking requirements for developments in transit-oriented zones.
“That’s a giveaway to developers to take more of our land and our amenities away, and will not alleviate our use of cars and need for parking,” she said. “I think that will be more impactive on our community, and I hate to see that happening.”
Concerning Airbnb and short-term vacation rentals, Schlageter said: “They’re taking our culture away from us and selling it to the tourists. I would like to see the codes enforced, and no short-term rentals in residential or multi-family zones. That is our housing for us. Short-term rentals should be in commercial and mixed-use districts.
“I think the solutions are out there,” Schlageter said about the community’s pressing social and demographic issues. But solving those issues “will take some really creative thinking.”