Who Says You Can’t Fight City Hall?
At the October 27th East Brunswick Town Council meeting, Ordinance 25-36 was introduced — a sweeping drone restriction that would have banned almost every kind of drone flight in town. It passed its first reading 5–0, without a single question, discussion, or mention that local governments can’t regulate airspace under federal law.
Two days later, on October 29th, Eyes on EB published a blog post breaking down exactly why this ordinance wasn’t just unnecessary — it was illegal. The post hit a nerve and spread quickly, drawing more than 30,000 views, with the majority of readers right here in East Brunswick.
“I was laying on my couch with my laptop, the Town Council meeting Bluetooth’d to my TV, a bowl of ice cream balanced on top of me — and I nearly fell off the couch when I heard what they were proposing,” said Rob W, founder of Eyes on EB. “It sounded like something written without even Googling ‘FAA drone laws.’”
And that reach made an impact.
South Rive resident Robert Wasilewski was the first to come across our blog post exposing the proposed drone ordinance. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, he reached out to Sayreville resident Jason Miklowcic, another experienced drone pilot and advocate. Both were familiar with Ryan Latourette’s work in drone policy and knew he was the right person to contact.
Robert and Jason brought the situation to Ryan’s attention — and from there, Ryan took the lead, engaging legal counsel and ensuring the issue reached the Township’s attorneys. Within days, the matter was under formal review — and the impact was felt.
At the following Town Council meeting, Mayor Brad Cohen publicly announced that there would not be a second reading on the drone ordinance. He acknowledged that “the members of the public and some of us here in the township recognized that the ordinance as it was written was a little bit too broad.” Cohen added that the police department and township attorneys would revisit the language and “look at redrafting it in a way that’s more succinct and gets to the point… without being overly broad.”
In other words — the ordinance that once seemed destined to pass quietly has now been pulled from consideration for now.
For the time being, the Town Council will not be voting on it.
Robert, Jason, and Ryan all deserve credit for stepping up quickly and working together to ensure East Brunswick didn’t move forward with an ordinance that conflicts with existing law.
As Ryan pointed out, New Jersey’s Drone Act (N.J.S.A. 2C:40-27) already provides clear statewide regulations. It prevents municipalities from creating local laws that contradict federal or state rules. Towns can decide where drones take off and land on township property — but they cannot regulate airspace, flight altitude, or flight paths. That authority belongs solely to the FAA.
In short: East Brunswick never had the legal authority to pass this kind of ordinance.
But here’s the bigger concern — if something this obviously flawed slipped through five council members and a mayor without anyone questioning it, what else is sliding through the cracks?
Only about 150 people watch Town Council meetings online, and just a handful of residents attend in person. When that few people are paying attention, accountability disappears.
That’s exactly why Eyes on EB will be paying even closer attention to Town Council meetings moving forward — attending, reviewing, and reporting on the issues that affect taxpayers, homeowners, and residents before decisions are made behind the dais.
This drone ordinance wasn’t just about drones — it was about awareness.
It showed how quickly bad policy can advance when no one’s watching, and how quickly it can stop when people are.
So, who says you can’t fight City Hall?
Sometimes all it takes is one good article, a few informed residents, and a community that refuses to look the other way.
