Ocean City residents Georgina Shanley and Steve Fenichel attended the Ocean City Air Festival in 2014 to raise awareness of privacy issues related to the potential testing of drones in Cape May County.
Dear Editor,
“One if by land and two if by sea” was the historical battle cry related to Paul Revere’s midnight ride of April 18, 1775.
Today the threat to American freedom comes from the air in the form of drones. And “now is the time for all good men (and women) to come to the aid of their … (Mayor).”
With great courage and sincerity, Mayor Jay Gillian has introduced an ordinance that would ban drones from Ocean City’s airspace. This Ordinance arises from his concerns for the privacy rights and also safety issues for his constituents. The mayor strongly told the council that the ordinance has “zero tolerance” regarding drones in Ocean City and “no loopholes.”
The mayor’s statement was quickly followed by a councilman filled with braggadocio saying: “No one is more against loopholes than me” as he proceeded to suggest the possibility of watering down and basically ‘loopholing’ the drone ordinance to death.
After all the council comments were made, it became very clear that, unless there is a major public turnout at the second reading on Nov. 12, 2015 supporting the mayor’s ordinance, the petty marketing interests will trump our community’s privacy and safety issues.
One of the themes given for rejecting the ordinance was this is a federal/state issue and Ocean City Council has no legitimate standing to vote on it. These council members need to be reminded that their oath of office requires their support and defense of our Constitution!
The First and Fourth Amendments are totally shredded by drone surveillance and Mayor Gillian’s ordinance will strengthen these rights. Respectively, these are free speech and freedom from unreasonable searches.
As Benjamin Franklin wisely said: “Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither.”
The public’s presence at City Hall at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 is vital to help Mayor Gillian pass this powerful ordinance which protects our safety and Constitutional rights.
Sincerely yours,
Steven Fenichel, MD
Ocean City
