George Latimer has joined a slew of elected officials across the Northeast who are voicing concerns over an alarming increase in drone sightings, and the Westchester County executive is calling on the White House to address the nationwide buzz.
In a Dec. 16 letter addressed to President Joe Biden, the incoming freshman congressman wrote that Westchester residents have been worried about an excessive number of drone sightings and the federal government’s inability to identify them — leading to concern and confusion.
“With an absence of answers, our residents are vulnerable to insidious conspiracy theories or solutions peddled by fringe ideologues,” Latimer wrote. “I believe, as I know you do, that it is our government’s responsibility to inform its people, and to protect them from those who would mislead them – intentionally or otherwise.”
People have reported drones hovering in the skies across the Northeast – particularly in New Jersey, New York City, and Long Island. And it’s been causing a stir on social media.
Latimer said addressing drones openly could respond to the “fear and misinformation” that “is filling the absence of a broader explanation.”
“I ask that your administration intervene to identify the source of these drones, and that your administration work to publicize the facts,” Latimer said. “In the documented cases where these drones have been manned aircraft operating within the boundaries of the law, I would ask that you further publicize these sightings.”
Stewart International Airport in Orange County, N.Y., recently shut down runaways for about an hour on Dec. 13 due to drone activity in the airspace.
At the time, Gov. Kathy Hochul said “this has gone too far.”
Latimer wrote that Westchester residents had similar fears of travel disruptions.
“Residents are worried that their government is unable to identify these drones; they express trepidation over holiday travel to see and receive family, particularly from the Westchester County Airport,” he said.
The soon-to-be Washington, D.C lawmaker said he supports U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer’s proposal to deploy drone detection technology in an effort to respond to issues like these in the future.
Some lawmakers, however, including Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal and New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew, have called on the military to shoot them down. President-elect Donald Trump has also called on the drones to be shot down, and for the Biden administration and the military to disclose what they know.
“Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge. I don think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shot them down!!! DJT” Trump wrote on Truth Social.