Post Office Facilities Group Fighting USPS Real Estate Program Delegating Lease Renewals To Contractor
AUSPL Advises Lessors NOT to Pay CB Richard Ellis Group Commission Fees for Leases on Post Offices
By now, most AUSPL lessors have received a “Dear Landlord” letter in which the Postal Service introduced its real estate program delegating lease negotiations to CB Richard Ellis (CBRE). We are vigorously challenging this program because we believe it unfairly targets lessors and favors CBRE.
Many members are concerned about being forced to deal with CBRE because it subjects our members to negotiating with less qualified, third party contractors who have no prior experience with the property with the expectation we pay the real estate commission.
What’s more, postal buildings are unique. Nearly all postal buildings were constructed according to standard plan documents developed by USPS. The facilities include specialty equipment, materials, specialized interior space and configuration, accessibility and security features that would be difficult and very costly to duplicate in a generic commercial facility. Without understanding that, CBRE agents may well recommend the Postal Service relocate to lower priced, alternate quarters, which would be detrimental to our lessors and USPS.
At AUSPL, we believe lessors should NOT enter into an agreement to pay CBRE a commission. While the “Dear Landlord” letter obligates lessors to negotiate with CBRE, it does NOT obligate them to pay a commission. Indeed, the “Dear Landlord” notification is an “agency notice,” which requires lessors to negotiate with CBRE. However, a USPS real estate contracting officer must ratify and sign any lease renewal; CBRE is not authorized to sign any (new) lease or lease renewal agreement. Do not be bullied or pressured by a CBRE agent. If an agent CBRE “threatens” to withhold recommendation of the negotiated lease terms to the Postal Service real estate contracting officer, contact us immediately. Call 800-572-9483 or E-mail auspl@auspl.com. We will continue to fight this program and we keep you posted. Stay tuned.
source: Association of United States Postal Lessors
An Urgent Call To Attend USPS “Public Input Meetings”
Attend United States Postal Service Public Input Meetings to Insure a First Class Stamp Receives First Class Service
For Immediate Release 11/7/2011 Contact Clint Burelson, President 360-970-2965
Statement by Clint Burelson, APWU President, Olympia, Washington
The United States Postal Service (USPS) will soon be holding “public input meetings” regarding their proposals to close and/or consolidate mail processing plants all across the country. The Postal Service admits that if they are allowed to proceed with consolidating mail processing operations, the first class mail that is currently delivered the next day will instead take two to three days. The Postal Service does not intend to reduce the cost of a first class stamp to match the reduction in service. The delay in service problems will be even greater for those in rural areas. This is a dramatic, inappropriate, and unnecessary reduction of service to the American people. Read more
Military Post Offices in Iraq to Close Nov. 17
Filed under: post office closings, post offices, postal, postal news, usps
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2011 – Because U.S. forces are coming home from Iraq by the end of the year, the U.S. Postal Service will stop accepting mail addressed to military post offices in Iraq starting Nov. 17, Defense Department officials said today.
Military post offices in Iraq also will stop processing mail Nov. 17, and service members there should begin now to advise those who send them mail about the Nov. 17 deadline.
Mail still in the postal system through Nov. 17 will be processed and delivered to service members in Iraq, officials said.
In November, U.S. military postal service responsibilities in Iraq will transition to State Department embassy or consulate post offices for service members assigned to Office of Security Cooperation or the Chief of Mission in Iraq.
These sites will provide letter and parcel mail services to service members assigned to the Office of Security Cooperation or the Chief of Mission in Iraq.
The transition will be closely coordinated with the U.S. Postal Service Agency, which will delete ZIP codes for Iraq military post offices from the USPS database to prevent undeliverable mail from entering the postal system after Nov. 17, according to defense officials.
If APO mail arrives in Iraq after a service member departs, mail will be redirected to the new mailing address provided or, if no mailing address was provided, returned to sender.
Any mail mistakenly accepted by a USPS post office after Nov. 17 will be returned to sender once it reaches the International Gateway in New Jersey.
Service members in Iraq or returning from Iraq who do not receive a requested absentee ballot from their state can complete a back-up federal write-In absentee ballot at the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s Web portal. The form wizard will provide a PDF document for printing, including the completed ballot and instructions for returning it to their local election official. Contact installation and unit level voting assistance officers for additional assistance.
Service members who are remaining in Iraq after Nov. 17 and who are there on behalf of or are assigned to the Office of Security Cooperation or the Chief of Mission in Iraq should coordinate with their chain of command and the servicing State Department mail location to receive a new mailing address.
According to defense officials, conditions and situations in the Iraq transition change often. Officials recommend that service members check the Military Postal Service Agency website and USPS Postal Bulletins frequently for updates.
source: U.S. Department Of Defense – Military Post Offices in Iraq to Close Nov. 17
USPS to Sell 2011 White House Ornament
Filed under: post offices, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
The White House Ornament has been on sale at select post offices since October 13, 2011.
Press Release from USPS
WASHINGTON — The Postal Service has teamed with one of the nation’s leading companies producing decorative and commercial products to sell the 2011 White House Holiday Ornament at approximately 7,000 Post Offices across the country.
ChemArt of Lincoln, RI, has been the sole manufacturer of the annual White House Christmas ornament since the program inception in 1981, and was given exclusive retail distribution rights by the White House Historical Association. ChemArt and the association are proud to present the 36th ornament in the association’s series, which recalls the administration of President Theodore Roosevelt, his wife Edith and the couple’s young family when they called the White House home from 1901 until 1909.
“We anticipate that the ornament will be very popular — especially among collectors,” said Steven Mills, manager, USPS Retail Products. “Our vast retail presence will enable the product to reach a broader audience than ever before.”
The 2011 White House Holiday Christmas Ornament is now available at select Post Offices until Christmas Day for $24.99.
Also, under a licensing agreement, ChemArt will manufacture and sell holiday ornaments in 2012 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Postal Service’s Letters to Santa program. In 2013, under the agreement, ChemArt will introduce licensed Holiday ornaments based on more than 50 years of Postal Service holiday stamp images.
“All of the ornaments will be made in the USA and will be sold in Post Offices and commercial retail channels,” said Gary Thuro, manager, USPS Licensing. “We are pleased to bring quality products to our customers and generate revenue for the Postal Service.”
Customers can view an image of the collectible envelope on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps.
First Village Post Office debuts in Malone WA 98559
The U.S. Postal Service launches the first of its money-saving village post offices in a tiny town in Washington State.
Red’s Hop N’ Market is Malone’s one-stop shop for coffee, cigarettes, beer, socks and pickled sausages. People really like them. There’s a Hot Mama, which is the spicier version. And a Big Daddy is the less spicy version. Beginning today, Red’s will also be the Village Post Office. Red’s will sell stamps and flat-rate packages and rent mailboxes.
Dean Granholm, Vice President, Delivery and Post Office Operations says Malone was costing USPS about $85,000 to $90,000 a year and was bringing in less than $20,000 a year.
The Postal Service will pay Red’s Hop N’ Market about $2,000 dollars a year to become the new Village Post Office.
Malone’s old post office closed yesterday. Today operations move across the street to Red’s Hop In Market.
source: Marketplace – American Public Media Programs
List Of Over 700 Additional Retail Post Offices, Stations and Branches Under Review For Closure
Filed under: post office closings, post offices, postal, postal news, PRC, usps
This list of 727 postal facilities is in addition to the nearly 3,700 post offices previously listed. USPS filed the following list of Non Retail Access Optimization (RAO) Post Offices, Station and Branches with the Postal Regulatory Commission currently under review for closure.
LIST OF RETAIL FACILITIES UNDERGOING DISCONTINUANCE REVIEW OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE RAO INITIATIVE
PURPOSE: USPS-LR-N2011-1/3 is a list of the postal retail facilities under consideration for discontinuance at the time of the initiation of this docket as a result of locally-initiated proposals for discontinuance review unrelated to the Retail Access Optimization (RAO) Initiative. The list is being provided in order to clarify the scope of the RAO Initiative. It is a Category 6 library reference. Read more
USPS Takes Next Step in Optimizing Retail Network
Filed under: post office closings, post offices, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
Announces Post Office Replacement Model of “Village Post Office” concept
WASHINGTON — As more customers choose to conduct their postal business online, on their smart phones and at their favorite shopping destinations, the need for the U.S. Postal Service to maintain its nearly 32,000 retail offices — the largest retail network in the country — diminishes. To that end, the U.S. Postal Service announced today that it will be taking the next step in right-sizing its expansive retail network by conducting studies of approximately 3,700 retail offices to determine customer needs. As part of this effort, the Postal Service also introduced a retail-replacement option for affected communities around the nation.
“Today, more than 35 percent of the Postal Service’s retail revenue comes from expanded access locations such as grocery stores, drug stores, office supply stores, retail chains, self-service kiosks, ATMs and usps.com, open 24/7,” said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. “Our customer’s habits have made it clear that they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business.”
For communities currently without a postal retail office and for communities affected by these retail optimization efforts, the Postal Service introduced the Village Post Office as a potential replacement option. Village Post Offices would be operated by local businesses, such as pharmacies, grocery stores and other appropriate retailers, and would offer popular postal products and services such as stamps and flat-rate packaging.
“By working with third-party retailers, we’re creating easier, more convenient access to our products and services when and where our customers want them,” Donahoe said. “The Village Post Office will offer another way for us to meet our customers’ needs.”
With 32,000 postal retail offices and more than 70,000 third-party retailers — Approved Postal Providers — selling postage stamps and providing expanded access to other postal products and services, customers today have about 100,000 locations across the nation where they can do business with the Postal Service.
“The Postal Service of the future will be smaller, leaner and more competitive and it will continue to drive commerce, serve communities and deliver value,” Donahoe added.
The list of offices being studied and additional information, including video, audio soundbites, b-roll and JPEGs, can be found at http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/expandedaccess/welcome.htm.
Expanded Access study list - Click here for the list
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Senator Tester to USPS: Ensure postal service in rural America
Filed under: politics, post offices, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
July 19, 2011 - (U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester is calling on the U.S. Postal Service to keep mail service available in rural communities should it choose to close a post office.
Tester today wrote Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to express his concerns that Montana’s smaller communities will have unreasonably limited postal service as Postal Services continues to cut costs.
In his letter, Tester noted that Montana receives more mail than it sends, therefore “evaluating usefulness based upon revenue doesn’t reflect the value of a post office to the community.” Read more
USPS To Issue Final Rule On Changes To Procedures in Closing Post Offices
Filed under: post office closings, post offices, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
Postal Service Statement:Publication of Final Rule on Retail Discontinuance Actions
The Postal Service will publish a final rule in tomorrow’s Federal Register that revises the procedures for discontinuance of Postal Service-operated retail outlets. These regulations enhance transparency and public participation, increase the efficiency of the discontinuance process, and ensure sound business judgment in decisions for the Postal Service’s retail operations. The revised procedures include the following features: Read more
OIG Audit Of USPS Web-Based Program Used For Closing Post Offices
Filed under: audits, oig, post offices, postal, postal news, usps
USPS OIG audit report of the web-based application, the Change Suspension Discontinuance Center (CSDC) program, used for the discontinuance of Postal Service-operated retail facilities. According to OIG: “The CSDC program’s discontinuance process follows applicable federal law and Postal Service policies. By law, the Postal Service cannot close small POs solely for operating at a deficit.” Read more