Five Bronx post offices saved, 12 others still at risk

Here's a story from the Riverdale Review and Bronx Press

By Brendan McHugh 

The Bronx went postal on the United States Postal Service when 17 post offices were being studied for closure last year. Through rallies and community meetings, along with sending thousands of letters, five of the 17 have been saved so far. 

Fieldston, Einstein in Co-op City, Castle Hill, Hunts Point and West Farms Post Offices have all been removed from the list, the USPS announced last week. 

Robert Gratz, far right, held a successful
rally to save the Fieldston Post Office.

“I am so glad USPS has come to realize what the community and I have known all along: these post offices are much more than a place to drop off mail; they provide the essential services that residents rely on every day,” said Rep. Joseph Crowley, who has four of the offices in his district. 

Rep. Eliot Engel, who has the Fieldston office in his district, was thrilled at the news as well. 

“It is also encouraging that the Postal Service is listening to the rising chorus of reason. The Postal Service is facing difficult times but cutting off service to its customers is not the way out. The Post Office cannot fix its financial problems by making access to post offices more difficult and inconvenient.  This is a business plan designed for failure,” Rep. Engel said, noting that the Mount Vernon office in his district has also been saved. 

'Doomed' post offices get year's reprieve

Here's a story from this week's Riverdale Review and Bronx Press.

By Brendan McHugh 

The U.S. Postal Service is delaying any closing or consolidating of any post offices until at least May 15, 2012. 

This comes as good news to local leaders, who have fought against closures of 17 Bronx post offices for the past few months. 

“I am encouraged to see the Postal Service has chosen to listen to the rising chorus of voices from across the country urging it to stop trying to plug their financial gaps by cutting an essential service to the American people,” Rep. Eliot Engel said.

Jump below for the full story.

Fear for future of postal service

A story from this week's Riverdale Review and Bronx Press.

By Brendan McHugh 

Even worse postal service is coming to the Bronx. 

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced the elimination of overnight service for First-Class mail this week. 

Currently, 41.5 percent of First-Class mail arrives the next day, but with the Post Office’s proposed changes, it will go to zero. To get overnight service under the new regulations, the public would have to spend $13 to overnight a letter. 

They have already closed the Bronx Processing and Distribution Center earlier this year, which has slowed down mail for some Bronxites already. 

“It is a self-fulfilling prophecy – you provide inferior service, and you drive away business,” condemned U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel in a statement. “This gives them another excuse to curtail even more services, and all of a sudden it’s a downward spiral to poorer service."

The planned cuts include terminating 250 postal centers and laying off nearly 30,000 workers nationwide. 

Jump below for the full story.

As post offices are set to close, Crowley wants to rename one

Another story from this week's Bronx Press. Enjoy.

By Brendan McHugh 

While news of 17 Bronx post offices fighting to stay open has been the norm, Rep. Joseph Crowley would like to see at least one other post office be renamed for a man who fought for the country. 

"Rename this post office!!!"
(OK, not really what he was yelling)

Last week, Crowley announced the reintroduction of his bill, H.R. 3413, to name the post office on West Avenue in the Bronx after Private Isaac T. Cortes, an Army soldier and Bronx native who was killed in Iraq in 2007. 

“We should recognize and thank our veterans not just on Veterans Day, but every day. And, renaming this post office after Private Cortes – a true son of the Bronx and a hero in every sense of the word – is a chance to do just that,” Crowley said. “This legislation will serve as a reminder to us all of Private Cortes’ courage, integrity, spirit and sacrifice.”

Cortes was raised in the Parkchester neighborhood of the Bronx and attended Christopher Columbus High School. He enlisted in the Army on Nov. 21, 2006, completed his individual infantry-training course in Fort Benning, Ga., and then moved on to Fort Drum before being deployed to Iraq in September 2007.

“Isaac was a great soldier and an even better son and father,” said Emily Toro, Cortes’ mother. “Isaac lived by the motto, ‘Go big or go home’ and that was evident in everything he did. I know that he would be honored to have this post office named after him so the entire community could recognize the sacrifice he made for us all.”

Jump below for the full story.

Bronx outraged over post office closings

Another story from the Bronx Press. It's like I'm giving away the paper today! But there are even more stories in the print edition, so go find it!

By Brendan McHugh 

“Keep it open!” 

Going Postal: U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley and residents of Co-Op City
get just a bit hot under the collar over proposed closings of 17 postal substations
in the Bronx, including this one at Einstein Loop.

That was the chant Co-Op City residents hollered Monday morning in front of the Einstein Loop Post Office, one of 17 offices that are currently being reviewed for possible closure by the United States Postal Service. 

The USPS is looking at 34 offices throughout the city, but Bronxites say everyday chores will become near impossible if the Feds close their post office. 

“Bad, bad,” said Co-Op City resident Olga Powell. “I’m a senior. It’s very hard to go over to another office. We can’t afford to have it closed."

The USPS is also considering closing the Dreiser Loop office, which would mean residents in Co-Op City would have to travel all the way to the north end of their neighborhood to Conner Street—two miles away for some—to send packages, pay bills and pick up mail.

Jump below for the full story.

Meeting Wednesday to determine fate of Fieldston Post Office

This will be in the Riverdale Review this week, but I wanted to give you a preview of the story. You'll see why. 

By Brendan McHugh

The United States Post Service only gave four days notice for a public hearing on the possible closing of the Fieldston post office. 

A letter acquired through Community Board 8 dated Oct. 22 announces a meeting to discuss the possible closure of the 444 W. 238th Street office on Oct. 26 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at St. Gabriel’s School. 

The lack of notice has infuriated local elected officials who have been fighting the closures. The USPS plans to examine 17 Bronx offices for possible closure. 

“I’m not sure how they expect to get reaction from the community when they don’t give enough notice,” Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said. “That’s disgraceful.” 

Dinowitz added that he believes the USPS is giving short notice on purpose so they can go ahead and point to a poor turnout when they choose to close the office. 

Check the Riverdale Review tomorrow for the full story!

Dinowitz fighting for Bronx post offices

Below is a letter from Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz requesting that two post offices in his district remain open.

Postal worker Wilfredo Figueroa
with his fellow union members outside
the Bronx General Post Office last month.

Last week, the United States Postal Service announced they were studying 34 offices in the city for possibly closure. Of the 34, half (17) are in the Bronx.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr and Rep Eliot Engel have also voiced their support for the offices. All three Bronx pols have said senior citizens and local mom and pop stores will be terribly hurt if certain offices close.

In the letter, Dinowitz references the distance between Fieldston and Kingsbridge. For those of you not familiar with the area, to get from one office to the other, a person would have to walk down (then back up) 120 stairs between Waldo Avenue and Irwin Avenue, and then seven blocks south. I suppose you could hop on a bus to get there, but really, that shouldn't even be necessary.

Bronx post offices may close (UPDATE)

The U.S. Postal Service announced Tuesday they will be studying 17 Bronx post offices to determine if they should be closed. The USPS will be conducting a study of the Bronx offices to determine customer needs.

“Our customer’s habits have made it clear that they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business,” Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said.

The Bronx offices are: Botanical, Castle Hill, Clason Point, Cranford, Dreiser Loop, Einstein, Esplanade, Fieldston, Hillside, Hunts Point, Melcourt, Morrisania, Spuyten Duyvil, Stadium, University Heights, Van Cott and West Farms. In Westchester, Yonkers South and Sandford Sta in Mount Vernon will be studied.

Some of these branches have been looked at before, but a USPS spokesperson said it is an ongoing campaign to better utilize a shrinking amount of resources.

UPDATE: It's come to my attention that the Bronx's 17 potential post office closures is by far the largest amount of potential closures in the city. Here's the whole list. Manhattan has six, Brooklyn and Queens five, and Staten Island with just one.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. has responded with a statement:

“I am extremely concerned that 17 postal locations in the Bronx are being studied for potential closure. The Bronx cannot afford such a considerable loss of both jobs and commercial activity, and the federal government must seriously reconsider enacting any post office closure plan that would have a serious negative impact on Bronx communities. My office will continue to follow this process to ensure that the collective voice of our borough is heard on this important matter."

For more information, check the upcoming issue of the Bronx Press & Riverdale Review.