The downtown post office in Cheraw, South Carolina, was built in 1933 under the New Deal. It's located in the middle of the Cheraw Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it's surrounded by buildings that go back to the Civil War and even earlier. Cheraw, by the way, is the birthplace of Dizzie Gillespie. The … Read More
Closing Post Offices to Make Managers Look Good
Representatives of the postal system appeared before a Senate subcommittee yesterday to give testimony on the financial condition of the post office as well as addressing bills before the Senate. President of the National League of Postmasters Mark Strong had this to say: "There appears to be renewed interest in some sectors in closing small rural post offices, an interest … Read More
Fox joins the misleading “bailout” attack
Media Matters reports that "Fox Launches Misleading Attack On Postal Service": "On Fox & Friends, Fox Business host Stuart Varney attacked the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for seeking a 'bailout" because if it "were run like a business," the USPS would be "cutting costs" and wouldn't need federal assistance. In fact, the USPS has been cutting costs for years, and … Read More
If the Postal Service were private
The Wall Street Journal editorial bashing the USPS that we noted a couple of days ago continues to stir up controversy. The blog "Dead Tree Edition," which follows the production and distribution of magazines and catalogs, provides a thorough debunking of the Journal piece, and it makes the additional point that the Postal Service gives the Journal special treatment: "Within … Read More
More closings out west
There's been postal service in the small town of Cora, Wyoming, for the past 120 years. That may come to an end soon. Cora has received notice that the post office is being studied for closure or consolidation. The current postmaster said she was not authorized to speak to reporters about the possible closure, but former Cora postmaster Pat Poletti, … Read More
Rescuing the USPS: Bailout or restructuring?
Yesterday's Wall Street Journal ran an op-ed piece entitled "The Coming Postal Bailout: Congress wants taxpayers to save mail worker pensions." The editorial argues that because the Postal Service is about to use up its $15 billion line of credit with the federal government, the USPS is going to have to ask for a "taypayer bailout." But is helping the … Read More
Another historic post office closing
The post office has stood on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, NC, for 134 years. It will close on July 15. As the Raleigh News & Observer reports, "Finished in 1877 at a cost of $400,000, the building at Fayetteville and West Hargett streets was the first post office built in the South after the Civil War. . . . … Read More
It’s Friday the 13th: Let’s Kill the Post Office
It's Friday the 13th, and Fox Business contributor Judge Andrew Napolitano has a scary thought: "Let's Abolish the Post Office." According to Napolitano's latest "Freedom Watch" column, the postal service is a "Soviet-style behemoth" and an inefficient, non-competitive "dinosaur," and the only reason it even exists is because politicians are pandering to voters. Don't think Napolitano is alone. Conservative think tanks like … Read More
Say It Ain’t So, Obama
President Obama has announced his intent to nominate Robert G. Taub as Commissioner, Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). That's bad news for those concerned about post office closings. Taub, who's a former aide to a Republican Congressman, was instrumental in developing the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which is one of the reasons the Postal Service is in such financial straits. … Read More
Closure News Roundup
The Postal Service announced another quarter of losses, more than $2 billion, and warned it could be forced to default on federal payments for the billions it's borrowed from the government. In the meantime, the closings continue. In Floriston, California, they closed a historic post office that dates back to 1872. In Modesto, CA, prospective buyers have begun touring its vintage … Read More
Postal closure fight promised
From the Watertown Daily Times: "PARISHVILLE — Town Supervisor Jerry G. Moore said closing the U.S. post office in the hamlet is a bad idea that will create a hardship on many in the community, especially senior citizens. Mr. Moore said he won't let the U.S. Postal Service close the post office without a fight. "I'll get a hold … Read More
Keeping track of post office closings
The website Postal Reporter is keeping track of all the post office closings, and they're neatly organized, state by state, with links to news articles about the individual closings. It's a great website for keeping up with the latest news about all things postal. And thanks to Postal Reporter for this perfectly apropos cartoon by Chan Lowe. By the way, … Read More
Postmasters File Objections With USPS on Post Office Closing Regulations
From the NAPUS website: "On Monday, May 2, the National Association of Postmasters of the U.S. (NAPUS) and the National League of Postmasters (LEAGUE) submitted “Public Comments” to the U.S. Postal Service, opposing proposed regulations that would result in the wholesale closing of Post Offices through the nation. In a joint comment, the two postal management organizations illustrated how the … Read More
Things go badly at meeting about post office closing
As required by law, the Postal Service is holding meetings about the post offices it wants to close. At a recent meeting in New Hartford, Iowa, where the Postal Service has its eye on several post offices, things didn't go so well. Confronted by angry citizens opposed to the closure, two "postal service officials abruptly left the gathering at the … Read More
Historic post office in Venice, California: For Sale
Another historic post office, this one in Venice, California, is set to close. Like the one we posted about a few days ago, it's from the New Deal, built in 1939 by the Works Projects Administration. The full story is here, and a blog on "save the Venice post office" is here. Like many New Deal public buildings, the Venice post … Read More
The Postal Regulatory Commission Weighs in on Proposed Changes to the Closing Process
On May 2, 2011, the Postal Regulatory Commission submitted comments to the Postal Service on its proposed changes to 39 CFR Part 241, which seek to alter postal regulations “to improve the administration of the Post Office closing and consolidation process” as well as apply “certain procedures employed for the discontinuance of Post Offices to . . . the discontinuance of … Read More
