By ROBIN SHEPARD
Times Correspondent
Councilman John Cale once considered the annexation of Castle Commerce Center to be a priority for Atwater’s future economic development.
In a perfect world, that may make sense. The former Castle Air Force Base had always been Atwater’s closest neighbor and economic engine. When the base closed in 1995 the loss of economic activity the base produced was keenly felt in the city.
This isn’t a perfect world, however, and Cale, 66, has since abandoned any thought of Atwater’s ownership of Castle’s future. It was a brave, but perhaps quixotic mission for the incumbent councilman as he seeks reelection to a second term representing District 1.
A 1977 graduate of Atwater High School, Cale is a U.S. Navy veteran and a nurse by profession. He and his wife Fily have been married for 23 years and have raised six children in a blended family.
His continuing priorities include addressing issues surrounding the city’s homeless population, improving streets and sidewalks, and the residential blight that has stymied code enforcement efforts.
He also insists that Atwater be given a voice in the county’s strategic plans for Castle.
“I’ve asked the county for Atwater’s representation in the decision-making process for Castle,” he said. “What happens there affects the city greatly.
“Of course, they said ‘no.’”
Cale remains frustrated with the development of Castle and gives the effort a failing grade.
“After 30 years, what do we have to show for it?”
While lamenting missed opportunities for job growth at Castle, Cale remains optimistic about Atwater’s future, noting the planned private renovation and development of the city’s long abandoned Blue Seal Dairy plant on Broadway Avenue and Castle Street.
While Atwater’s continued economic health remains foremost in Cale’s mind, he also stressed the need to be prudent with taxpayer money.
“I’m generally opposed to raising people’s taxes,” he said. “I don’t like to do it.”
In the case of the city’s Measure B, a one-cent sales tax increase, Cale was pragmatic. During council deliberation over the measure, Cale said he prayed before voting to support placing the measure on the ballot in 2022. With the passage of the one-cent sales tax, the city’s police and fire safety services were protected from budget cuts.
“It was the right thing to do,” he said.
Economic development goes hand-in-hand with improving infrastructure and enhancing a city’s aesthetic qualities, Cale said. Atwater’s roads and sidewalks are inadequate in many areas of the city, and problems with residential blight, abandoned vehicles, and general public nuisances are troublesome.
“We have to do a better job of making our city look nice in order to attract new businesses.”
Cale believes the problems with code enforcement, which often involve legal actions, would be better solved by having a fully dedicated city attorney, which isn’t the current case, nor has it been for almost 30 years.
The city’s homeless population has also contributed to Atwater’s crime statistics, noting that his truck was vandalized on his own property. While low-income housing remains inadequate in the city, Cale said mental health services and drug programs would do much to improve the problem of homelessness.
“If we can provide these services, then housing becomes more realistic.”
Overcoming challenges is nothing new to Cale, who was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2013 and had to endure the surgical removal and reconstruction of his jaw.
But that procedure, accompanied with chemotherapy and radiation, saved his life, while disfiguring his appearance. It also left him with a “massive” depression he endured while struggling to regain his speech through therapy.
“Cancer changes your life, and it changes family dynamics,” he said. “Without the support of my wife, my family and friends, I wouldn’t have survived.”
Cale also credits his emotional recovery to his iconic black derby hat. He is never seen in pubic without it, and it has become almost a trademark for him. He credits the advice of a doctor who encouraged him to get a hat to help cheer him up.
“I saw Jason Bonham playing the drums and he was wearing a derby. I knew that’s what I needed. I bought mine in a hat shop in Sacramento on our way to Reno.
“I can’t believe that little thing opened my eyes and changed my outlook. In Reno, everyone said ‘nice hat.’ No one said ‘what happened to your face.’”
Because he’s retired, Cale said, he has time to serve the city and contribute to various community organizations. He’s a founding member of Atwater’s Castle Veterans Organization, and is a past exalted ruler of Merced Elks Lodge #1240. He also served as the California Hawaii Elks Association president.
“I love this city so much, that I know this is what I need to do.”
Also vying for the District 1 seat is Atwater realtor Michael Anthony Gomez.
District 1 includes neighborhoods west of Shaffer Road, bounded by Juniper Road to the south and areas north to the Atwater-Livingston Canal. The eastern boundary captures voters west of Winton Way and extends to neighborhoods to the south and west of Atwater High School.