The U.S. Postal Service has delayed the closing of any postal processing facilities until May 15, 2012, after U.S. senators asked for the delay.
“The Postal Service will continue all necessary steps required for the review of these facilities during the interim period, including public input meetings,” according to a USPS statement. “The Postal Service hopes this period will help facilitate the enactment of comprehensive postal legislation. Given the Postal Service’s financial situation and the loss of mail volume, the Postal Service must continue to take all steps necessary to reduce costs and increase revenue.”
As you may have read in this article I wrote, one of the processing centers considered for closure is located in Everett. Closing it would delay mail service to and from Whatcom County, because that’s where all of our mail is processed.
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, opposed closure of the facility. He was pleased with the decision to delay closure. Rep. Larsen
Rep. Larsen
“The Postal Service’s decision to postpone closure of the Everett Area Mail Processing Facility is great news for the dedicated employees at this facility and means that residents across Northwest Washington will maintain their speedy first class mail delivery,” Larsen stated in a press release. “When I visited this facility in November it was clear to me that the services it provides are vital to residents across Northwest Washington, and that the Postal Service had not adequately accounted for the costs to the community if the facility closed.”