PRESS RELEASE – Ward 5 Council Office
Contact: Mark Kerr, 791-4231.
TUCSON’S MAIL SORTING POST OFFICE FACILITY UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR
CLOSURE BY USPS; HEARING SET FOR DECEMBER 28
Tucson- On Wednesday, December 28, the United States Postal Service
(USPS) will be holding a public hearing in Tucson on whether to close
Tucson mail sorting facility and moving that service to the Phoenix
facility.
This hearing will be held at the Leo Rich Theater, 260 South Church,
beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Tucson’s Processing and Distribution Center, located at 1600 South
Cherrybell Stravenue is one of many facilities being studied for
possible closure under the direction of the current U.S. Postmaster
General Patrick Donahoe.
Currently, more than 1,000,000 pieces of mail a year is being processed
by the Cherrybell Post Office.
Up to 400 jobs are in possible jeopardy with this potential closure of
this facility by the USPS.
“This would be a substantial setback to the effort to rebuild
Tucson’s economy,” said Councilmember Richard Fimbres. “In
addition, this would also hurt businesses who rely on the distribution
center, the elderly who may pay bills by mail or wait for their Social
Security checks and medication,” he added.
Fimbres went on to say that, “If Tucson loses the Processing and
Distribution Center, the effort to recruit companies to the area would
be severely hampered, since the city would be one of the largest without
a Distribution Center.” Tucson is the 33rd largest city in the United
States, according to the Census Bureau.
“Government functions involving mailing items, people’s water bill,
and electric bills and voting by mail would be impacted by this
potential closure,” Fimbres said. “Small, local businesses that
rely on mail order service could close if Tucson’s distribution center
is moved to Phoenix.”
The proposed closure is only one item being considered by the USPS.
The elimination of overnight service in the Tucson metro area as well as
all of the 856 zip code areas is also on the table.
“This is not just a Tucson issue, it will affect all of Southern
Arizona, its citizens, businesses and their governments,” Fimbres
stated. “This would end overnight service as well as cause delays for
the mail for Tucson and the Southern Arizona region.”
Councilmember Fimbres will be bringing this item for discussion by the
Tucson Mayor and Council, at their meeting, Tuesday, December 20, during
the Study Session, which is scheduled to start at 2:00 pm. Former
Tucson Postmasters, Alvaro Alvarez and Arnold Elias will be present, as
well Local 255 of the American Postal Workers Union.
At the December 28 meeting, The public will have the opportunity at
this meeting to speak to the USPS management in attendance and give
their feedback on the proposed shut-down of the Tucson mail sorting
facility and moving that service to the Phoenix facility.
USPS is also inviting their largest local business customers to the
meeting so they can hear about the plan and its possible effects on
their mailings.
The public may send their comments on this to the USPS. Comments will
be accepted and postmarked by January 12, 2012. Written comments may be
sent to: Management, Consumer and Industry Contact, Arizona District,
P.O. Box, 21628, Phoenix, Arizona 85036-1628.
Contact: Mark Kerr, 837-4281, Ward 5 Council Office
Arnold Elias (former Tucson Postmaster) h) 622-6128
Alvaro Alvarez (former Tucson Postmaster) c) 349-8534
Americal Postal Workers Union Local 255, Connie
Sadler-Nelson, 325-5891
Contact: Mark Kerr, 791-4231.
TUCSON’S MAIL SORTING POST OFFICE FACILITY UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR
CLOSURE BY USPS; HEARING SET FOR DECEMBER 28
Tucson- On Wednesday, December 28, the United States Postal Service
(USPS) will be holding a public hearing in Tucson on whether to close
Tucson mail sorting facility and moving that service to the Phoenix
facility.
This hearing will be held at the Leo Rich Theater, 260 South Church,
beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Tucson’s Processing and Distribution Center, located at 1600 South
Cherrybell Stravenue is one of many facilities being studied for
possible closure under the direction of the current U.S. Postmaster
General Patrick Donahoe.
Currently, more than 1,000,000 pieces of mail a year is being processed
by the Cherrybell Post Office.
Up to 400 jobs are in possible jeopardy with this potential closure of
this facility by the USPS.
“This would be a substantial setback to the effort to rebuild
Tucson’s economy,” said Councilmember Richard Fimbres. “In
addition, this would also hurt businesses who rely on the distribution
center, the elderly who may pay bills by mail or wait for their Social
Security checks and medication,” he added.
Fimbres went on to say that, “If Tucson loses the Processing and
Distribution Center, the effort to recruit companies to the area would
be severely hampered, since the city would be one of the largest without
a Distribution Center.” Tucson is the 33rd largest city in the United
States, according to the Census Bureau.
“Government functions involving mailing items, people’s water bill,
and electric bills and voting by mail would be impacted by this
potential closure,” Fimbres said. “Small, local businesses that
rely on mail order service could close if Tucson’s distribution center
is moved to Phoenix.”
The proposed closure is only one item being considered by the USPS.
The elimination of overnight service in the Tucson metro area as well as
all of the 856 zip code areas is also on the table.
“This is not just a Tucson issue, it will affect all of Southern
Arizona, its citizens, businesses and their governments,” Fimbres
stated. “This would end overnight service as well as cause delays for
the mail for Tucson and the Southern Arizona region.”
Councilmember Fimbres will be bringing this item for discussion by the
Tucson Mayor and Council, at their meeting, Tuesday, December 20, during
the Study Session, which is scheduled to start at 2:00 pm. Former
Tucson Postmasters, Alvaro Alvarez and Arnold Elias will be present, as
well Local 255 of the American Postal Workers Union.
At the December 28 meeting, The public will have the opportunity at
this meeting to speak to the USPS management in attendance and give
their feedback on the proposed shut-down of the Tucson mail sorting
facility and moving that service to the Phoenix facility.
USPS is also inviting their largest local business customers to the
meeting so they can hear about the plan and its possible effects on
their mailings.
The public may send their comments on this to the USPS. Comments will
be accepted and postmarked by January 12, 2012. Written comments may be
sent to: Management, Consumer and Industry Contact, Arizona District,
P.O. Box, 21628, Phoenix, Arizona 85036-1628.
Contact: Mark Kerr, 837-4281, Ward 5 Council Office
Arnold Elias (former Tucson Postmaster) h) 622-6128
Alvaro Alvarez (former Tucson Postmaster) c) 349-8534
Americal Postal Workers Union Local 255, Connie
Sadler-Nelson, 325-5891
