One of the many long-time residents of the Alvarado-Decoto Districts, now named Union City, James "Jim" W. Celcer, talks about the old Decoto district when everything was green, the pleasures of raising his children in a quiet neighborhood, his life in Union City politics and the upcoming new development in Union City.

Mr. Celcer had lived in his impeccable house at 233 Tamarack Drive for 40 years. He moved from Chicago in l953 to Oakland, California and worked for Sears in a contractor capacity with a water heater company.

He designed his own "oasis." It's all about being able to transpose oneself. He did it. On February 16, 1958, which he vividly remembers, he decided to go to a place where it is a big span of greenery, where he could breath some fresh air, and where he could raise his three children. The children are daughter Dolores, 51, a teacher in Oxnard, California, teaching first grade, son Ruben, 42, who lives in Hayward and son Jim, 40 years old, who resides in Union City. The place where he settled his family was called the old Decoto. He came to Union City when Decoto had a population of 2,000 and Alvarado, 1,500. He said that the railroad portion, where the homes are being built right now, was a dead-end way. He saw the Holy Rosary Church burned down in l960 and rebuilt into a beautiful church today. His house is just across the Barnard White elementary school, which was later had an addition, the Manuel White elemental school. His children went to this school and then to Logan High School.

Jim was a school board member of the then called Decoto School Board (Board of Education.) Alameda County officials appointed him with a four-year term from l959 through l965. He served for a total of 6 1/2 years. He was also active in the Alameda County Unification Committee.

Jim ran for City Council, when the city hall was in the "green" building at the corner of Central and Whipple Road. He remembers some of the issues he, together with some of his activist friends, fought for. One was the selection of a site for the State College. It was planned to be built at Whipple Street by the Hayward side, which is now the Reynolds Aluminum site, just across the street from Union City. The group fought hard to have this be approved by the City Council, but four council members, which included then council member Tom Kitayama, did not approve of the site. the council members wanted the area to be industrialized; hence, the industries lined up in that area at present. The State College that they fought so hard to get is now called the Cal-State University Hayward. The thought right now is, what could have happened if that was approved? A big change in our city? On July 13, Jim will turn 75, a magic age. His wife Nelly is 76. As a retiree, Jim seems like a man perpetually on vacation. He plays golf at Skywest and at Sunol Valley with his friends. He enjoys his family especially his one and only granddaughter, age 16. He said he liked the progress that he sees happening in Union City. He wants to be a part of the Union City History.

Note: Interviewed in June of l997.