After going out with police to observe reports of possible drones, I was with the help of civilian pilots and others able to do deeper analysis and concluded that most of the possible drone sightings that were pointed out to me were almost certainly planes. Let me explain: THREAD
While not receiving any feedback/info from federal officials, I reached out to civilian aviators/others for analysis. I used public flight tracking tools to recreate the conditions of my time out. For instance I was at Round Valley Reservoir at 9:20pm and shot this video. 2/9
While I didn’t observe a plane in the flight tracker at that moment that night, I was able to pull up more detailed flight data subsequently and spotted this one small plane taking the path of what was pointed out to me the other night as a possible drone flying near us. 3/9
I share this because this is the kind of analysis we need but are not getting from the federal government to explain this situation. FAA experts have much more experience/resources to identify aircraft. Instead I’m left to draw on civilian support and public apps. 4/9
I don’t discount others may have seen actual drone activity, and not all I saw is fully explained by flight paths, but much of it was. And I think the process through which I got confirmation points to the kind of explanation we need from gov authorities to address the public’s concern. 5/9
Press releases from federal agencies that don’t share analysis of evidence and instead just reiterate statements aren’t helpful in this moment. We have a lot of distrust in politics/government right now, and we need federal gov to respect the right for the public to be informed. 6/9
Federal experts should provide information and guidance to the public including local police departments like the one that took me out to help them decipher what they are seeing. Instead myself and others requesting are getting no feedback. 7/9
I think this situation in some ways reflects this moment in our country. People have a lot anxiety right now about the economy, health, security etc. And too often we find that those charged with working on these issues don’t engage the public with the respect and depth needed. 8/9
I’ll keep pressing to get answers about possible drones and help us understand what’s going on. On top of that, I’ll push for a government that is more responsive to the people. A customer service governance that treats people with respect, transparency and accountability. END
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Last night I went out with local police to spot drone flying over New Jersey, here’s what I saw. We drove to Round Valley Reservoir and the officer pointed to lights moving low over the tree line. Sometimes they were solid white light, others flashed of red and green.THREAD
We oriented ourselves with a flight tracker app to help us distinguish from airplanes. We often saw about 5-7 lights at a time that were low and not associated with aircraft we could see on the tracker app. Some hovered while others moved across the horizon. 2/11
We saw a few that looked like they were moving in small clusters of 2-4. We clearly saw several that would move horizontally and then immediately switch back in the opposite direction in maneuvers that plane can’t do. 3/11
Today was my final vote in the House. As I walk out of the chamber for last time, I wanted to share something almost no one notices. The center aisle, the one the President walks down for SOTU, the aisle that divides the R and D sides, ends at an inscription of “Tolerance.”THREAD
It caught my eye the very first time I stepped into the House chamber when first elected. There is a desk in front of it so you can’t see it on TV. I thought it was a curious choice for such a central location. I’ve thought about it for a long time. Why “tolerance?” 2/11
Tolerance isn’t a particularly inspiring word. In fact it can sound a bit negative. Tolerating noise or bad behavior etc. That’s why political leaders often use “unity.” Why isn’t the word “unity” inscribed in this central location? 3/11
If we’re only having comfortable conversations in politics, it means we aren’t talking to all the people we need to be talking to. What comes next will be hard but needed. Here are my lessons learned for having effective “uncomfortable conversations” in district Trump won. THREAD
THE POWER OF RESPECT:
One of most profound moments of my time in politics happened after finishing a town hall in a deep Trump area. An older man waited 45 min to talk to me. He said “I want you to know I didn’t vote for you…and was very hesitant to come to this town hall.” 2/12
But then the man said “but I’m glad I did.” He shook my hand and walked off. For weeks I thought hard about this moment to unpack it. What I concluded was I don’t think I necessarily earned this man’s vote for showing up and listening, but I do think I earned his respect. 3/12
In 2020 I was one of 7 dems that won a district that Trump won, so I held a series of listening sessions with people who voted for Trump and voted for me to understand their actions. I reread the transcripts yesterday and much of it felt like it could have been said today. THREAD
Across the board the conversations began with expressions of what I can only describe as deep disgust in politics. Severe distrust in politicians and the status quo. And this wasn’t about the specifics of the moment, but instead deep seated long-term dissatisfaction. 2/12
Even after 4 yrs in office, Trump wasn’t seen as the status quo or as a “politician.” There was a clear belief that Trump was different. Some raised real concerns about Trump’s policies and personality, but those concerns didn’t override their disgust for politics. 3/12
Last night a Republican delegate from NJ accused me of wearing a North Korea flag on my tie and questioned my allegiance to America. This is a disgusting attack and I urge NJ Republican leaders including @BobHugin and @CurtisBashaw to condemn this xenophobia. THREAD
When I first ran for Congress, mailers sent out with my name in Chinese take out font. TV ads with the phrase “Andy Kim He’s Not One of Us.” I tried to ignore it but I realized that I should have done more to stand up. Unfortunately we see hate growing in our country… 2/12
In CA, Derek Tran is running against Rep Michelle Steele. Steele is now using these horrible mailers. Tran is son of Vietnamese refugees who fled communism. He served in the US Army. Steele is accusing him of supporting communism. Shameful. She should apologize. 3/12
I heard about vandalism of the United Synagogue of Hoboken and it pains me to see the way some people are acting on their deep disagreements and prejudices in ways that intentionally seek to intimidate and strike fear in others…THREAD
I walked past the defaced statues at Union Station yesterday as the park service power washed the disgusting “Hamas is Coming” threat from the marble. No matter how deeply one disagrees, that is no justification for threats or antisemitism. 2/
Threats and intimidation are not a form of protest, they are a form of coercion and retribution. Often instilling fear, they risk opportunities for understanding, and weaken and draw focus away from the cause of legitimate protests. 3/