Carper, Coons, Carney & Markell Write to PMG Urging Review of Hare’s Corner Proposal
Filed under: politics, post office closings, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
Officials highlight concerns regarding USPS’s proposal to revamp Delaware’s only mail processing and distribution center
February 3,2012
WILMINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that oversees the U.S. Postal Service, along with Gov. Jack Markell, Sen. Chris Coons and Rep. John Carney (all D-Del.) wrote to United States Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe urging him to review the U.S. Postal Service’s proposal that would revamp Delaware’s only mail processing facility, causing a significant negative impact on Delaware. Specifically, the Postal Service has proposed transferring the mail processing functions from the Delaware Processing and Distribution facility at Hare’s Corner in New Castle, Del., to another facility in Bellmawr, N.J.
The letter highlights several concerns with the proposal and the process the Postal Service has employed when considering revamping the Hare’s Corner facility. It includes statements from businesses and state and federal agencies noting that this proposal would negatively impact their operations. It also urges the Postmaster General to reconsider the Area Mail Processing study that led to the current proposal, explore the concerns raised regarding the proposal, and consider the possibility of consolidating other operations into the Delaware Processing and Distribution facility. Read more
Alabama community finally gets mail service
Filed under: mail delivery, postal, postal news, USPS News Link
An industrial area near Mobile, AL, now has something it’s never had before — mail service.
Pinto Island, home to shipbuilder Austal USA and other manufacturers, is located across the Mobile River from the city of Mobile. Until now, it’s been the most industrialized area in the lower 48 states without mail service. That ended when Mobile, AL, Letter Carrier Alan Green made the Postal Service’s first delivery to the island last September.
Postmaster Veronica Johnson, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), and officials from Austal USA worked together to make mail service a reality. To celebrate the first day of mail delivery, the Mobile Police Department escorted Green and his vehicle to the island, where he was greeted by manufacturing employees, postal officials, congressional representatives, and reporters.
The island is home to some of Mobile’s largest employers, including Austal USA, which opened its shipyard in 2001 and began pursuing postal delivery on the island. Before September, the company had a PO Box in Mobile and paid a courier to bring mail to the shipyard.
Now manufacturers no longer worry about critical, time-sensitive documents on bids and pricing being received on time. Also, since most GPS systems rely on postal information, customers find it easier to navigate now that mail delivery officially has come to Pinto Island.
source: USPS News Link
Scammers Use USPS Online Change of Address To Steal Woman’s Identity
A local woman says someone from Nigeria stole her identity, opened multiple accounts in her name and took out a big loan, all things she says she probably would’ve caught except she stayed in the dark for weeks because scammers managed to stop her mail.
The culprits used a free online change of address service known as “Updater, Inc.” That website then forwarded the information to the postal service. Read more
For Ninth Straight Year FedEx Is USPS’s Largest Supplier
Husch Blackwell’s Postal Service Contracting practice group today released its list of the top 10 U.S. Postal Service suppliers for fiscal year 2011. For the ninth straight year FedEx claimed the No. 1 spot. Another air carrier, Kalitta Air, Inc., which transports military mail bound for Iraq and Afghanistan, claimed the second spot. The list is compiled by David P. Hendel, a partner in the firm who has served clients’ postal contracting needs for 30 years. A list of the top 150 postal suppliers can be found here. Read more
Fans huddle up at USPS’s Championship Station In Superbowl Village
Scoring big at the Super Bowl
Fans huddle up at the Postal Service’s Championship Station
Super Bowl fans attending the big game won’t have to carry their souvenirs in their luggage when they go home.
The Postal Service is operating “Championship Station” — a fully functioning retail facility offering Ready Post shipping supplies such as gift wrap, tape and bubble wrap; expedited shipping (Express Mail and Priority Mail); and extra services like insurance, Delivery Confirmation and Signature Confirmation.
“The Postal Service is part of the whole Super Bowl experience,” said Greater Indiana District Acting Marketing Manager David Riley. “Customers can use our expedited services to ship their packages. They don’t have to worry about extra baggage fees and their mementoes of the game will be there for them when they return home.”
Championship Station is located in “The Huddle” — an entertainment and dining area of Super Bowl Village. It will be open through Monday, Feb. 6.
Special souvenir commemorative envelopes and stamp art developed specifically for this year’s Super Bowl will be on sale. A unique pictorial postmark will be offered daily, as well as hourly drawings for special giveaways.
The only postal services not available will be money orders and passports.
USPS Love Ribbons Forever Stamps Goes on Sale Before Feb 14th
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service today announced the new Love Ribbons Forever Stamp is on sale today at usps.com and by phone at 800-782-6724. Stamps are arriving in Post Offices over the next few days and will be sold as soon as they are available.
“We are excited to bring this colorful new stamp to our customers in time for them to mail their Valentine’s Day greeting cards and letters,” said Stamp Services Manager, Stephen Kearney. “We will continue selling the Garden of Love stamps too.” The official dedication ceremony for Love Ribbons will be held Feb. 14 in Colorado Springs, CO. Read more
Texas Letter Carrier Sentenced To 18 Months in Prison for workers comp fraud
Defendant Claimed Reimbursement for More than 500,000 Miles Driven to/from Doctor’s Appointments in Workers’ Compensation Claim
DALLAS — Keldrick Hamilton, 34, of Desoto, Texas, was sentenced yesterday afternoon by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to 18 months in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $230,000 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for stealing government funds related to Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (OWCP) claims he filed, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.
According to documents filed in the case, in September 2002, Hamilton, who worked as a U.S. Postal Service Letter Carrier at the Joe Pool Station in Dallas, filed for workers’ compensation after injuring a foot while delivering mail. The OWCP allows federal employees who sustain on-the-job injuries to receive medical payments and compensation benefits, including reimbursement for medically-related travel. His claim was accepted and he began visiting medical providers in late 2002.
Hamilton admitted, however, that from January 2007 through mid-November 2010, he defrauded the DOL OWCP by fraudulently claiming approximately $230,000 in mileage reimbursements, representing approximately 500,000 miles driven, for physician and rehabilitation appointments he did not attend. In fact, during that time frame, he did not visit any medical or rehabilitation facility, and thus did not incur any mileage costs.
The investigation was handled by the DOL-Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wiley and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Toussaint prosecuted.
source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Texas
California Postal Clerk Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Embezzlment, Passing Counterfeit Bills
February 1 , 2012
OAKLAND, Calif. – Emmanuel Odion Esezobor was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay $39,973.62 in restitution for stealing public money and passing counterfeit U.S. obligations, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.
Esezobor, 51 of Hayward, Calif., was convicted by a jury on Oct. 27, 2011, after a three-day trial on one count of theft of public money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641, and seven counts of passing counterfeit U.S. obligations, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 472. During the trial, evidence showed that, in February and March 2011, Esezobor issued himself $13,800 worth of U.S. postal money orders and purported to pay for those money orders with counterfeit $100 bills. The evidence further showed that Esezobor knew these bills were counterfeit and had passed similar counterfeit bills at his credit union in Hayward in November 2010.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken. At sentencing, Judge Wilken found that the defendant stole a total amount of $43,500 from the Alamo Post Office. As a result, she ordered restitution in the amount of $39,973.62, the remaining balance owed to the Alamo Post Office. Judge Wilken also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release. The defendant will begin serving his sentence on March 13, 2012.
Esezobor was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 14, 2011.
Brian Lewis and Joshua Hill are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted the case with the assistance of Noble Hughes, Janice Pagsanjan, and Vanessa Vargas. The prosecution is the result of a year-long investigation by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Secret Service.
source: U.S. Attorney for Northern District of California
USPS: ‘Black Women in American Culture and History’
February is Black History Month — a time to pay tribute to the achievements of African Americans throughout the nation’s history. More than 133,000 African Americans currently work for the Postal Service.
Harriet Tubman was one of the African-American women featured in the Black Heritage Stamp Series.
This year’s national theme is “Black Women in American Culture and History.” Since 1978, the Postal Service has honored African Americans through the Black Heritage Stamp Series. Of the series’ 34 stamps, 12 have been women — including abolitionist and Underground Railroad leader Harriet Tubman, education and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune and journalist Ida Wells.
This month, USPS also is recognizing the accomplishments of black women employees such as Minnie Cox, the first African-American female Postmaster. Cox was appointed Postmaster in 1891. USPS also is recognizing the 885 women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion during World War II, the only battalion of African-American women to go overseas. The battalion is featured in the National Postal Museum’s “Mail Call” exhibit.
Click here to learn more about “Black Women in American Culture and History.” You may also visit the Postal Store to order collectible items related to Black History Month.
Postal Inspection Service renews violence-prevention efforts
Filed under: postal, postal inspectors, postal news, USPS News Link
The Postal Inspection Service’s Safe and Secure Initiative continues to educate employees on avoiding violence in the workplace.
Postal Inspector Robert Diaz — the initiative’s program manager — said Inspectors will visit approximately 400 postal facilities over the next two months to address the issues of workplace violence, employee security and carrier safety.
Inspectors will hold face-to-face discussions with employees and distribute safety brochures about violence prevention. Key points include:
- Take every threat seriously and report it immediately.
- Behave in a way that promotes a positive work environment.
- Act in a professional manner, even if you’re having a bad day.
- Report all threats to management officials, your Threat Assessment Team or the Postal Inspection Service.
The Safe and Secure Initiative is a key element in the Postal Service’s zero-tolerance policy for workforce violence. Employees who feel threatened also should contact the Employee Assistance Program — which provides crisis counseling, referral and short-term counseling — at 800-327-4968 (TTY, 877-492-7341).
via USPS News Link