It's "admirable" that the Federal Aviation Administration is imposing temporary flight restrictions against unauthorized drones flying over areas of New York and New Jersey, but the ban is "basically useless," Michael Melham, the mayor of Belleville, New Jersey, tells Newsmax.
"I think that the administration is starting to feel the heat," Melham said on Newsmax's "Wake Up America" Friday. "I think they had to act and I think they just went out and got some agency to claim that they were doing something."
The flight restrictions include warnings that "lethal force" can be used agains the drones, but Melham said he wants to know how that could be used against an unmanned aircraft.
"These are just hotbed topics," he said. "They're just trying to get some press because how can you use lethal force against an unmanned drone? I mean, it's getting ridiculous."
But the authorities are not talking about reports that the drones are "not emitting a radio frequency," said the mayor.
"We were told that here in New Jersey by our state police, which is quite unique," he said. "That's why we can't jam them. That's why it's very hard to track them and that's why we can't down them. So telling Bob and Joe who have a residential drone that they can't put it up, I think they think people are going to feel comforted by that. We're not. We still want to know what's flying around just above our homes."
Melham pointed out that the drone sightings have been going on for a month, and that it has been 10 days since the state's mayors met with federal officials to discuss the dilemma.
"Here in Belleville, we're in northern New Jersey," he said. "We border the largest city in New Jersey, the city of Newark. We are dead smack in the middle of airspace from Newark International Airport, LaGuardia, and JFK. And yes, my residents have seen them. I have seen them. Members of our police department have seen them."
It's "insulting," he added, that members of the Biden administration are insisting that there is "nothing to see here" and insinuating that people are "seeing things."
"We're not buying it and it's time for answers," said Melham. "It's gone on long enough."
The mayors also met with the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs on Monday, where they were told by "every agency" that the drones are not linked to the government, he said.
But, "just 24 hours after that, the Intelligence Committee had a classified briefing that lasted north of three hours," said Melham. "Well, what did they talk about for north of three hours when just the day before mayors were told 'nothing to see here?'"
Meanwhile, one of the mayors reported seeing a drone that was the size of a small car hovering overhead, he noted.
"You can't tell us we're not seeing something," said Melham. "It's time for answers. The only thing that's shocking to me is the fact that the administration didn't have a suitable cover story for what's going on. At least tell me it's a training mission. Don't tell me I'm imagining things."
About NEWSMAX TV:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America!
- Find Newsmax channel in your home via cable and satellite systems – More Info Here
- Watch Newsmax+ on your home TV app or smartphone and watch it anywhere! Try it for FREE – See More Here: NewsmaxPlus.com
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.