CBS News: The Fort Howard, MD, post office on Howard Avenue was set to close its doors after this Friday, Sept. 15, and residents were prepared to pick up their mail at the next closest post office—eight miles away in Dundalk, a twenty-minute drive on a good day. A notice posted on the location’s front door reads it will now close on Saturday, Oct. 14.
A number of constituents contacted U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, who represents their district, to take action. On August 30 he and the rest of the Maryland congressional delegation wrote to the USPS Postmaster, Louis DeJoy calling for the agency’s long-term solution.
The Postal Service doesn’t provide home delivery to the residents of Fort Howard, and they all go to the post office for their mail. There are over 200 boxes in the office.
The owner of the building said the USPS began leasing her family’s building in Fort Howard since 1978. The agreement is set to expire, and she says USPS isn’t budging.
“It is not being renewed because the post office real estate department refuses to negotiate,” Labuda told WJZ. “I am disappointed because it affects this entire community of 189 homes and these people do not deserve this.”