Victor Arreola is running for National City Council District 4 seat against. Daniel Perez and Councilmember Marcus Bush. Arreola, 54, has served the community for 25 years as a coach, counselor, mentor. The Republican graduated from Sweetwater High School and coached there for 11 years. Fourteen years ago, Arreola started with a toy drive, Christmas on the Block in National City, then in 2018, he started a nonprofit Awakening Giants.
“I just retired last year, and the reason that I am running is that people have been asking me for years, knowing that I have been serving in our community for many years, why don’t you run for city council and do something bigger here in the city. The main reason I am running is for the people. I decided to retire and focus more on the community,” he said.
Arreola said in walking neighborhoods, streetlights were the main priority from residents that he spoke to. He said one person he talked to said he was trying to get his streetlight fixed for the last year and a half, and nothing gets done.
“What scares me is that there are homeless here, and my daughter must get up at 3 a.m. to be in at 4 a.m. So, I am afraid something might happen to her if she parks too far away from the house,” he told Arreola.
Arreola said other residents on East 16th Street told him the same story, with some saying they were afraid to come out after dark for any reason.
“That is sad that people are afraid to come outside after dark due to the lighting. That is something so small for government to fix for the future of its community,” he said. “Another thing I noticed is the speeding. We just had a hit and run accident here on Sweetwater Road, and in talking with residents, they told me the crosswalk lights were not working. People are speeding up and down the street and sometimes they are drag racing and nobody is doing anything about it. I mentioned it to the city. We had the same at 16th Street and Palm Avenue with several accidents. I asked residents if they had asked for speed bumps, and they said they had asked, but nothing had been done,” he said. “Whatever is affecting the people in the city is what I am mainly concerned about. I just want to fix it.”
Arreola said with the Port of San Diego, whatever needs to be done to get from the Port for the people of National City, he wants to get them done.
“The Port of San Diego drags out things way too long. But I am not sure who is at fault here, the Port or the City Council. I do not want to make changes, but I want to get in there and make sure things are moving forward so we can address the pollution, and the lack of beach access,” he said.
Arreola said years ago his nonprofit did a Lights on the Block event, trying to get businesses to participate on Highland Avenue, wanting people to safely come out at night like they do on Third Avenue in Chula Vista and Little Italy in San Diego.
“I want to make Highland lights back so that it is more inviting for residents to come out and enjoy the restaurants and businesses. This will help everybody. It will help the city, the businesses, and the community. The people will be able to enjoy their city. That is what I have been working on for years with the nonprofit, and I am going to continue. Win or lose, whatever happens on Nov. 6, I am still going to be helping the people in National City. I really care about the city and the people that live here. I have lived here all my life. I grew up on the west side, now I live on the east side and have been here going on 14 years. That is why I started Awakening Giants. I am always telling people to do greatness. You are gifted and talented. We are only here for a short time and what are you going to do in that short time? And I am always telling people to do more,” he said.
Arreola said the youth in National City are its future, and that working with youth is the best way to prepare them for life and keep them out of trouble.
“It is building a relationship with them so that they have trust. We all need direction. I believe it is until we get in there with the youth and find out what they need, and what is missing in their life, that is what we have been doing for all these years. Right now, we are working on opening women’s rehab down south. We went to Tecate, Rosarito, and there a many young people down there from the states, and young people also. I want us to work with the women, get them help, and get them back home,” he said.
Arreola said he is extremely involved with the community, and wants to see City Council united, not divided.
“Let’s stay united and focus on the community and the people that we are serving. That is my main focus,” he said.
Arreola said the unhoused population needs to be handled one on one, providing them training and resources.
“I have a lot of friends there. We try to get them help through the nonprofit to get them out of there, find them somewhere to stay, get them a job. I have been asking friends with businesses if they can help them with a part-time job. We make sure that if they need medication, a job, basic items, for them it is a big deal. Give them the training, the jobs they are looking for. But nobody gives them a chance. We must work for what is best for them. For many of them, they lost hope in their families, their government, so we need to build that relationship, build that trust. Many of them are afraid to move because they do not know where they will go,” he said.
Arreola said it is important to treat the unhoused population as people, not numbers.
With the nonprofit, Amazing Giants, Arreola said started by giving out toys during the holidays.
“That is what happened to me when I was growing up on the west side of National City. Somebody gave me a toy and it changed my life forever. I said that one day I was going to do the same thing. We started free basketball and soccer clinics, mentoring programs for men and women, and we have done beautification projects here, and in San Diego,” he said.
