Staff Reports
Drones in the northeast have taken a turn for the absurd, shutting down runways at a New York airport and prompting even Governor Kathy Hochul to concede that the situation has spiraled out of control. Under normal circumstances, the governor, who is loyal to the Biden-Harris administration, might not dare to voice any dissent. However, the chanting chorus of “This has gone too far” spills forth from her lips, particularly after drones forced the closure of Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, New York. This airport, which serves both commercial and military flights, has now drawn the ire of those in power who are supposed to keep the skies safe.
The recent spate of drone chaos has seen these flying nuisances hovering over prominent airports such as LaGuardia and Newark, though they had yet to shut down operations there — for now. It seems the drones are more interested in making headlines than in actual hijinks. At Stewart, the authorities reported a mere hour of runway closure or, as the Port Authority calls it, “a minor inconvenience.” The FAA issued a warning about a drone sighting, but thankfully, the worst case scenarios, like unidentified flying objects from outer space, did not materialize. Passengers can breathe easy, despite the exponentiation of these aerial pests.
Drones Shut Down NY Airport Runway, Even Hochul Says ‘This Has Gone Too Far’https://t.co/uFQX9o7ik7
— PJ Media (@PJMedia_com) December 15, 2024
Hochul has not just thrown her arms up in defeat but called for federal help. This is a bit rich coming from a governor who generally milks stories to bolster the administration. Perhaps it’s time for Hochul to break with her party for a moment and declare that when drones threaten the public, it’s perfectly logical to demand federal intervention. Besides, after all the resources expended to try and frame Trump for imaginary crimes, surely some could be spared to tackle this airborne menace.
While Hochul’s management of her state has been questionable, at least she is attempting to stir the pot on this drone mystery. She has directed state authorities to investigate the nuisances further, though so far, little progress has been made. She is now lobbying Congress to pass legislation — because when in doubt, why not create more laws? The proposed legislation, the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act, aims to grant proper power to local and state law enforcement to address these drones. One is left wondering: will a new law really be what saves the day, or is it just another way to keep politicians busy?
While federal officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, assure the public they are “on it,” even Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has started to show some irritation with the regime’s lack of action. He pointed out that if drones can fly into the skies, surely technology exists to keep tabs on these pesky devices. If a Democrat senator admits a tech failure, clearly something has gone awry in the Biden-Harris administration’s approach to, well, everything.
With Hochul and Schumer both expressing dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs, it is time for the Biden administration to level with Americans about what is truly happening in their skies. The lack of a coherent plan speaks volumes, indicating that flying the friendly skies could soon be anything but friendly. While they may hope to ignore the issue and somehow pin the blame on past administrations as their trademark move, the people need a plan now, not more finger-pointing as January 20 approaches.
