Morgan Hill Mayor Rich Constantine gave his first State of the City address to a crowded City Council chambers on March 13.
The newly elected mayor set a vision for the upcoming year centered around economic development and overcoming the city’s challenges surrounding housing, infrastructure and public safety.
Constantine began his speech by applauding the city for its accomplishments. He said Morgan Hill has done well in carefully planning for its future and that overall, the economic state of the city is strong.
“Our downtown success is the result of thoughtful planning, and the proactive leadership of our planning commission and city council in their willingness to seize the opportunity. We have applied this same approach to growing and attracting businesses in Morgan Hill,” said Constantine. “Our industrial vacancy rate is between 1 and 3 percent, when only six years ago it was 19 percent. We have a clear vision for economic development through our Economic Blueprint and it has helped us capture our fair share of the market.”
Future projects by Toeniskoetter Development and Trammell Crow were described as great opportunities for Morgan Hill to create jobs within the city and become “fiscally sustainable.”
The address was followed by a brief question and answer segment when members of the community were able to ask Constantine and other city officials questions about the city. The public comments ranged from statements about the recently passed gun control ordinance to alleviating traffic congestion.
With many of the questions having an economic message at their core, Constantine said that bringing new higher-paying jobs to the city would make the community more desirable, alleviate traffic, preserve industrial space and bring in revenue.
“I am very hopeful and energized about Morgan Hill’s future,” Constantine said. “We have challenges ahead, but this community has shown resiliency and thoughtfulness in the past, and I trust we will unite to continue to maintain our clean, beautiful and thriving community.”
Read the Mayor’s full speech here.
