gmhTODAY: You are one of the driving forces behind the Healthy Morgan Hill initiative. What’ s the latest on that initiative to create a hrealthier Morgan Hill?
Mark Turner: It’ s changed a bit from when I first introduced it, but in general, Healthy Morgan Hill will provide many opportunities for all of our residents to participate in healthier options and healthier choices and, as a result, live healthier lifestyles. We ' ve held one meeting with key stakeholders, and have one meeting planned with business owners and one with residents to share what the Healthy Morgan Hill initiative is about. We are seeking support and input, and getting lots of ideas. We ' re rolling it out to the community in May. The City Council caught the vision, took hold of it, and made it a strategic priority named“ Healthy Community.” Under Healthy Community is the Healthy Morgan Hill intitiative, and mental health and fentanyl awareness initiatives.
Through the Healthy Morgan Hill initiative, mental health can be addressed in a number of different ways, including the benefits of building social connections. Studies show that when people are more isolated, they are also prone to have greater mental health challenges. So we’ re addressing the issues of healthier mind and body, healthier eating, healthier choices, and healthier living. and the concept that healthier
residents create a healthier community. It’ s also good for local business. Restaurants, gyms, wellness practitioners, and faith communities are just a few examples of small businesses who stand to benefit.
gmhTODAY: Regionally, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, San Martin and the unincorporated areas all have similarissues with County, State, and Special District entities, how can move forward as one region on those bigger issues that we all have in common?
Mark Turner: While we have our individual cities to be concerned about, we have to be thinking of South County as a region. Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and San Martin all must continue to work closely as we ' ve done so over the years. We’ ve worked well together when we’ ve collaborated on improvements for Hwy 101, the Hwy 25 / 101 interchange, Caltrain, and VTA. We have to maintain that collaborative mindset and build upon it.
We are one South County, one unified region, when it comes to these sorts of issues. Working together, meeting together and making sure that we ' re supporting one another is important. I am looking forward to continuing to work with our regional partners and Gilroy’ s new mayor Greg Bozzo.
gmhTODAY: As we begin 2025 and you start your second term, What is your message to the residents of Morgan Hill?
Mark Turner: Working previously in Gilroy and now as mayor of Morgan Hill, the thing that I ' ve always noticed is that it is the people themselves who make our communities what they are. People who care about their neighbors and those in need are the ones who step up and make things happen. What makes our city so special are those people who give of themselves to make Morgan Hill the best it can be. We live in a wonderful community only because people believe in Morgan Hill. They believe in what we stand for, and I am honored to serve as their mayor.
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