Action demanded on drone sightings

North Jersey mayors call on agencies for answers

By: Megan Burrow
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... A group of Morris County mayors and other local elected officials are demanding answers and action by authorities concerning the multiple sightings of drowns in North Jersey in recent weeks.
..... A letter signed by 19 elected officials requests assistance from law enforcement agencies, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Homeland Security and the New Jersey State Police. The letter says those agencies have taken "a reactive instead of proactive approach" to the issue.
..... The mysterious drone sightings began in Morris County just before Thanksgiving, and they have since been reported in Sussex, Somerset and Warren counties and other areas in North Jersey.
..... On Thursday, [12/05/2024] Governor Phil Murphy said he had convened a briefing with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, senior officials from the Department of Homeland Security, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and New Jersey State Police to discuss the sightings.
..... Members of New jersey's congressional delegation also participated in the meeting.
..... "We are actively monitoring the situation and are in close coordination with our federal and law enforcement partners on this matter," Murphy said in a statement on X. There is no indication of any threat to public safety, he added.
..... But the elected officials in their letter said they believe not enough is being done to address the situation.
..... "We look at it this way, they wrote. "Either higher level officials know what's going on and are not concerned or they are negligent for not apprehending and identifying one of these drones.
..... "We strongly request a proactive approach be taken on the half of the residents of New Jersey and Morris County," they wrote. "These drones have to land at some point somewhere and those offices need to follow them and identify where they are going an who owns them and is operating them."
..... Residents "pay a fortune for government," they wrote, and "Right now either our government is keeping us in the dark or they are failing to act on taxpayers concerns over these unidentified drones."The mayors' letter follows state lawmakers calling on Murphy to act.
..... Senator Doug Steinhardit sent a letter to state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senate President Nicholas Scutari on Friday, [12/06/2024] calling on them to take action by convening a bipartisan panel to address the situation.
..... Also on Friday, [12/06/2024] Assemblyman John DiMaio and Erik Peterson sent a letter to Murphy, asking him to "take immediate action and address growing concerns over unexplained drone activity."
..... "The recurring issue of unidentified drones in areas of critical military and infrastructure security, over private homes, under the cloak of darkness and at all hours of the night have raised concerns among many including residents in the 23rd legislative district," wrote Steinhardt. "The incomplete answers and evasive assurances given by the Governor and others in authority positions have raised more questions than they have answered."
..... Steinhardt is calling on Scutari and Coughlin to convene a bipartisan panel to solicit statements, ask questions and subpoena documents, ensuring transparency with New Jersey residents and making it clear that state officials "here their concerns, take them seriously, and demand meaningful, credible answers."
..... In their letter to Murphy, DiMaio and Peterson highlighted public fears regarding safety, privacy and security "compounded by the lack of transparency from state authorities." They urged Murphy to explain what he already knows or work to get immediate answers.

Photos posted on social media

..... Concerned residents have posted photos of what they believe to be drowns and their theories on social media about who is operating them and why they are in the area. Officials have warned that while some may be legitimate sightings, others could be cases of misidentified objects or hoaxes.
..... The state Office of Homeland security and Preparedness and other agencies have encouraged resident to report drone sightings to local authorities.
..... The local officials said it was "disconcerting" to residents that the drones have not yet been identified.
..... "We demand that either they present us with the answers or they go and get the answers but this limbo of no action is unacceptable," they wrote.
..... They letter was signed by Mayor Sam Morris of Mine Hill, Mayor Ace Gallagher of Hanover, Mayor Bill Chegwidden of Wharton, Mayor Christine Glassner of Mendham, Mayor Eric Wilsusen of Jefferson Township, Mayor Jamie Barberio of Parsippany, Councilman Jim Rilee of Roxbury, Township Committee member Matt Doris of Long Hill Township, Township Committee member Matt Kayne of Montville, Mayor Matt Murello of Washington Township, Mayor Guy Piserchia of Long Hill Township, Mayor Janet Hoven of Chester borough, Mayor Joe Jackson of Rockaway, Councilwomen Melissa Florance-Luch of Pequannock, Mayor Mike Stanzilis of Mount Arlington, Mayor Paul Carelli of Riverdale, Mayor Mark Taylor of Florham Park, Mayor Tom Andes of Denville and Mayor Tim Drage of Chester Township.

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