New York’s Staten Island. Elected representatives from Staten Island convened at Fort Wadsworth on Friday to demand an inquiry by the NYPD and answers regarding drone sightings over the island.
The group, led by Borough President Vito Fossella, asked for additional information regarding the enigmatic drones that were initially spotted over Northern New Jersey in mid-November.
Reports of sightings over Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens have since spread throughout the city.
“Take the initiative, be truthful and honest with the American people, the people of Staten Island, and find a permanent solution to this issue,” Fossella urged.
Drones have reportedly flown over sensitive places, such as President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster Golf Club and military installations like Fort Wadsworth and Fort Hamilton.
There are currently no specific limits in effect over Staten Island or other areas of the city, but the Federal Aviation Administration has implemented flight restrictions for the golf club and the Picatinny Arsenal Military Base in New Jersey.
Every political figure present stated that hundreds of citizen complaints regarding drone sightings had been sent to them in recent weeks. According to Fossella, the majority of complaints his office has received have been about the island’s coastline.
Federal officials, who have mostly focused on drones reported over New Jersey, have claimed that many of the sightings are actually the result of human mistake, even if the NYPD did not reply to a request for comment at the time of publishing.
According to White House national security communications adviser John Kirby, a large portion of reported drone sightings are actually people mistaking lawfully functioning manned aircraft, Kirby said Thursday.
We have no indication at this time that the alleged drone sightings represent a national security or a public safety danger or have a foreign nexus, Kirby said. Even if they haven’t found any hostile activity or intent as of yet, law enforcement and other agencies are still supporting New Jersey and looking into the reports because [we] definitely take seriously the threat that can be posed by unmanned aircraft systems.
Joining him are Fossella and the elected officials. According to State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn), Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn), Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore), State Representative Nicole Mallitoakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), and Councilman David Carr (D-Mid-Island/South Brooklyn), the responses given thus far fall short. Additionally present were representatives from the offices of Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore), Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore), and District Attorney Michael McMahon.
Congresswoman Tony Garcia’s staffer, who lives close to Fort Wadsworth, reported seeing what he believed to be a drone Thursday night over a Staten Island Expressway entry.
Despite being briefed by federal officials that several of the claimed drone sitings matched established flight patterns for human aircraft, Malliotakis said he was still not pleased.
“People reporting the drones, which have altitude caps of 400 feet, would be able to tell the difference,” she said, referring to the current flight altitude limits that require manned aircraft to maintain a height of at least 1,000 feet.
She claimed that our government does not disclose to us who is using [the drones] or why. All we’re asking is that you just tell us what’s happening and be honest with us.
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