The Coast News INLAND EDITION
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VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
VOL. 7, N0. 12
JUNE 10, 2022
Escondido considers term limits By Samantha Nelson
IN 1969, the U.S. government closed down Project Blue Book, a research program run by the Air Force to investigate UFO sightings. Last year, Pentagon officials met with Congress to discuss “unidentified aerial phenomena” for the first time in 50 years and to “assess and mitigate any associated threats to safety of flight and national security.” Photos via National Archives/FBI
UFOs officially back on nation’s radar By Jacqueline Covey
OCEANSIDE — At approximately 4 a.m. in May 2014, Carlsbad photographer Ann Patterson’s intended subject was the moon, but her camera appeared to capture something unseen by her naked eye: a fluorescent bell-shaped object teetering over the Oceanside pier. While it remains unclear what exactly the photo portrays (lights, reflections, dust, glare or perhaps a UFO), Patterson, who
would not say she physically saw the object, is confident she captured something other-worldly at the iconic North County dock. “Strange things happen there,” Patterson said. The peculiar relationship between UFO sightings and the San Diego coast was limited to discussion in closed session on May 17 during a hearing of the U.S. House Intelligence subcommittee on counterterrorism, counterintelligence and counterproliferation.
While Pentagon officials said they were committed to determining the origins of credible UFO (also “unidentified aerial phenomena,” or UAPs) reports, they also told lawmakers that UFOs are not aliens. “We have detected no emanations within the UAP Task Force that would suggest it is anything nonterrestrial in origin,” said Scott Bray, deputy director of Naval Intelligence. The congressional
hearing — the first in more than 50 years on the subject — unveiled a shadowy organization that quietly restarted the efforts of Project Blue Book, an Air Force program for the investigation of UFOs that concluded in 1969. According to Ronald Moultrie, undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security, the role of the newly established Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group is “to facilitate
the identification of previously unknown or unidentified airborne objects in a methodical, logical and standardized manner.” The recently-formed group is the successor to the U.S. Navy’s Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force and was added to this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, marking the first dollars allocated to UAPs in a decade. “Unidentified aerial TURN TO UFOS ON 15
San Marcos officials upbeat in State of the Community By Laura Place
SAN MARCOS — Expanding the San Marcos downtown core, a return to in-person schooling and new industries were among the completed and future developments highlighted by city government and school district leaders during the 2022 San Marcos State of the Community. The event drew dozens of residents and local officials to the San Marcos Community Center, where they heard an overview of the pos-
itive changes in the city and the San Marcos Unified School District over the past two years as well as ongoing projects. Following a resource fair with booths set up by local and city-level organizations, Mayor Rebecca Jones and San Marcos Unified School District Superintendent Andy Johnsen provided remarks, both praising the community for their resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic and coming out of it together.
“It’s apparent that San Marcos has emerged stronger than ever,” Jones said. “I'm proud of our residents, our businesses and our community advocates who have leaned in to help our city.” Jones outlined the growth of the new downtown core, referred to as North City, developed in partnership with Cal State San Marcos and Sea Breeze Properties, which earned recognition from the CaliTURN TO SAN MARCOS ON 7
FOR COVERAGE of Tuesday’s California primary election, visit thecoastnews.com. Courtesy photo
ESCONDIDO — City Council is considering asking voters in November if they would like to set term limits for city elected officials and potentially change the city treasurer from an elected to an appointed position. Councilmember Mike Morasco brought forward both potential ballot measures at the May 25 council meeting. Both term limits and the future of the treasurer position have been subjects that the city and the public have discussed for quite some time, he noted. According to Morasco, a recent city survey showed the majority of respondents want term limits for elected officials like the mayor, council members and the treasurer. He also agrees. “I don’t think it behooves us to have people in office that long to become institutions unto themselves,” Morasco said. “I’d like to see new blood, young blood, other ideas, other individuals having that opportunity to learn, to grow, to have greater input and greater say as to what’s happening in the city of Escondido.” Morasco is also the longest-serving council member currently on the dais. He was first appointed in 2010 and has been reelected three times since. “As you heard in letters to the city tonight, people are tired of my perspective, so maybe we need to have that opportunity for people to know that I will not be an institution unto myself,” he added. Of San Diego County’s 18 cities, only eight of them have term limits for their elected officials. Oceanside and San Marcos are currently the only two cities in North County that have term limits for TURN TO TERM LIMITS ON 3