(NEPM) WESTERN MASS — Finally, Ella, Amazon wants to launch drone deliveries out of Westborough. That’s about an hour east of Springfield down the Mass Pike. But local residents and lawmakers are fighting back. Sixteen state lawmakers want Governor Healey to freeze commercial drone applications, while Westborough voters have just passed a ground safety bylaw to protect privacy, leaving the FAA to handle the skies. So, with a key local zoning hearing set for November 2nd and the Governor reviewing calls for a moratorium, what power do towns actually have to block these flights if the feds give Amazon the green light?
Yeah. So, this is part of the situation that I talked to Senator Michael Moore [2nd Worcester District] about. He’s one of the 16 lawmakers who sent the letter. He said that this situation kind of exemplifies, he called it ‘the jurisdictional balance that takes place between federal, state and local government’. He said this is an instance where federal preemption can sacrifice local communities, since the state doesn’t have jurisdictional responsibility here. So that is a great question.
But the fact that there are no clear answers right now hasn’t stopped local lawmakers from weighing in on who controls the skies. Right?
Yeah. And so, Senator John Velis [of Westfield], who is the Senate chair of the Legislature’s Aviation Caucus, said last Friday that he’s demanding clear answers and robust state oversight. And he talked about how emerging tech like drone delivery could have new opportunities. But the innovation shouldn’t come at the expense of public safety.
He pointed to community concerns that lawmakers like him have been hearing, and he talked about how drones are a concern, he said, worldwide and pointed to even in his district [Hampden and Hampshire District] drones have been reported in the airspace around Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport. He said even though the FAA currently oversees drone operations, the states need to take action to ensure public safety.
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