Move Could Impact Hundreds Of Jobs and Makes No Sense In Face Of High Gas Prices
Yesterday, the office of Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., issued the following press release:
Postal Service Considering Moving Mail Processing Center from Staten Island; Decision Could Lower USPS Productivity and Delay Local Mail Service
May Result in Job Losses Or Longer Commutes For Hundreds of Employees; Closing Would Delay Mail For Small Businesses, The Elderly, and Those Living Paycheck to Paycheck
Schumer: Keep Postal Processing Center on Staten Island Where It Belongs
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer wrote to the U.S. Postal Service Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe urging him to abandon a USPS plan to close the Staten Island Processing and Distribution Center by having Staten Island mail trucked to other parts of the city for processing. In his letter, Schumer noted that the closure of the processing facility would damage the local economy, impact timely delivery of local mail, and impact hundreds of jobs. In the face of rising gas prices, Schumer also believes that consolidating the plant, and putting more mileage on postal service trucks and employees’ personal cars, makes little economic sense.
“In these tough economic times when the economy is just starting to turn around, any delay in the arrival of one’s paycheck could be devastating. A small business waiting for much-needed revenue should not be forced to wait an additional day, nor should a senior citizen waiting for her or his Social Security check. But as anyone familiar with Staten Island traffic can tell you, trucking mail back and forth from the Island will certainly cause delays,” said Schumer. “I also worry that the proposal to eliminate Staten Island processing services could result in job losses or a much longer commute for workers, adding increased hardships for families, and I urge the Postmaster General to reconsider the proposal to consolidate the facility and keep the processing center on Staten Island, where it belongs.”
Schumer said that closing the Staten Island Processing and Distribution Center would negatively impact the quality, productivity and efficiency of the U.S. Postal Service. Schumer said that in addition to putting hundreds of jobs at risk, service standards would be negatively affected due to extra time needed for mail delivery. The Staten Island Processing and Distribution Center processes 650,000 pieces of mail per day. Closing the Staten Island facility would create a regional bottleneck, thereby undermining USPS service standards and depriving residents of timely delivery of pieces of mail including Social Security checks.
“While Staten Island continues to grow by leaps and bounds, it makes no sense to pursue a plan that takes resources and top-flight service away from a growing community,” said Schumer.
In effort to maintain mail service at the Staten Island processing facility, Senator Schumer wrote to USPS Postmaster General Donahoe, urging him to reconsider the proposal to close the Staten Island facility based on the risk to local jobs and the likelihood it will endanger the quality of the postal service.
A copy of Schumer’s letter to Postmaster General Donahoe appears below:
Patrick R. Donahoe
Postmaster General
U.S. Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, D.C. 20260
Dear Postmaster General:
I understand that the U.S. Postal Service is currently conducting a consolidation study of the Staten Island, New York, Processing and Distribution Center, and I write today to urge you not to close this facility. For the past several decades, Staten Island has been amongst the fastest growing areas in New York state, and recent data indicates that growth continues. In light of this, it makes no sense to curtail Staten Island-centered postal activities.
Closing the Staten Island Processing and Distribution Center would ultimately lower USPS productivity. The State Island Processing and Distribution Center processes 650,000 pieces of mail per day. Closing the Staten Island facility would create regional bottleneck, thereby undermining USPS service standards and depriving residents of critical pieces of mail including Social Security checks.
As USPS continues its consolidation study, I sincerely hope that you consider the plant’s current productivity, the potential impact on Staten Island residents, and the overall negative impact on the ability of the USPS to deliver quality services.
Again, I urge you to keep this facility open in order to allow it to continue to provide the vital services that aid residents of New York City. It has proven time and time again as a necessary and integral part of life for these residents and will continue to do so in the future.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator