UPDATE: A few hours after this post was published, the Postal Regulatory Commission released its order on the exigent increase. As predicted in the post, the Commission determined that the Postal Service was entitled to another $1.191 billion in additional contribution as an exigent rate adjustment, which translates to $1.396 billion in revenue. That means the surcharge will … Read More
Help save Napa’s historic post office from the wrecking ball
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is once again taking on the Postal Service. After successfully challenging the sale of the Berkeley post office earlier this year, the Trust is now trying to save the historic Franklin Station post office in Napa, California. The post office, an Art Deco gem built in 1933, was damaged by the earthquake last August. … Read More
Post office to exit two federal buildings in Louisiana
Mayor Jamie Mayo says the Postal Service has informed him the federal building in Monroe, Louisiana, is going to need additional space, so the post office will need to relocate. The Postal Service will hold a public meeting about the relocation next week, but it looks like a done deal. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Postal Service also announced … Read More
Napans rally to protest post office demolition plans
A coalition of local, state and federal officials is rallying to save the earthquake-damaged downtown Napa post office following an announcement by U. S. Postal Service that it plans to demolish it. “We need to have more information on how the USPS came to the conclusion that demolition is the only alternative,” said Ken MacNab, Napa city planning manager. “It seems … Read More
Downtown Flint post office closes
The post office in the Dryden Building in downtown Flint, Michigan, closed last week. The Postal Service says it’s looking for a new location. The owners of the building say they are renovating and had been trying to contact the Postal Service about its lease for months , to no avail. The owners wanted to talk about downsizing the space and lower … Read More
Two post offices closed in Kentucky for emergency suspensions
The Postal Service suspended service in Almo, Kentucky after employees smelled sewage and noticed a spongy feeling to the floor, which may mean that mean mold. The Postal Service will spend the next few days trying to find and fix the problem. There is no time-line to reopen the post office. PO boxes have been moved to the post office … Read More
A brief glimmer of hope for repairs to Fernandina’s Historic Post Office dashed
For residents concerned about the deterioration of the historic post office in Fernandina, Florida, and the Postal Service’s continued neglect of its facility, there was a glimmer of hope that repairs would begin when scaffolding appeared on the north side of the building. Information obtained but not confirmed by the Fernandina Observer indicates the scaffolding is in place to fix an electrical issue as … Read More
The true cost for restoring service standards and why the Postal Service can afford it
A couple of weeks ago, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) announced that it would cost the Postal Service $1 billion to comply with an amendment requiring the Postal Service to revert to the service standards for First Class mail and periodicals that were in effect on July 1, 2012. The amendment was proposed by Representative Chaka Fattah and approved by the … Read More
$1 billion to restore USPS service standards? Did the CBO get it wrong?
Last week the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provided an estimate for how much it would cost the Postal Service to return to the service standards that were in effect on July 1, 2012. Going back to these standards for delivery times is one of the provisions in an amendment attached to the FY 2016 appropriations bill drafted by the House Appropriations … Read More
In Tieton WA, a campaign to create ‘the coolest post office in America’
Some folks in Tieton, Washington, have started a fundraising campaign to create a mosaic facade that will resemble a giant postage stamp. It will be mad out of 41,500 pieces of hand-cut glass tile. The goal is to create “the coolest post office in America.” Read more. Watch a video and a contribution to Kickstarter here.
USPS proposes demolition of historic Napa post office
To the dismay of locals, the United States Postal Service in Washington, D.C. has proposed to demolish the Franklin Street post office building damaged by the Aug. 24 earthquake. According to a June 26 letter from Daniel Delahaye, a federal preservation officer at the USPS, consultation on the demolition plan is “just commencing,” and residents are invited to share their … Read More