NEW YORK—The United States Postal Service (USPS) is considering terminating the sole post office on Roosevelt Island, causing a coalition of distressed residents and elected officials to gather on Thursday. They requested that the USPS hold a public hearing so those affected could put forth their views, bearing a collection of over 1,000 signatures in opposition to the proposed measure.
“Geographically, it just makes no sense to force residents to go to other places at a time when we are trying to revitalize and grow in a smart way, ” said Sen. Jose Serrano.
On this idyllic oasis with a population of approximately 12,500, the services a post office offers are an essential part of the tight-knit community, according to Matt Katz, president of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association, an elected position.
The alternatives that the USPS has listed for postal needs, such as the nearest post office a mile and a half away in Queens, was not deemed suitable by the locals, in part because a fair number of the residents are elderly or disabled and have limited mobility.
With the USPS facing a build up of financial difficulties, several weeks ago it made the announcement that 3,653 post offices are being targeted for closure.
Maureen Marion a spokeswoman with USPS said they are looking at “other ways to get stamps or services in the immediate areas.” “That’s what we'll look at in our process,” said Marion.
Already selling stamps—its most popular item, the Duane Reade on Roosevelt Island is contemplating a retail-replacement option dubbed, “The Village Post Office,” which would be operated by local businesses and offer other popular postal products like flat-rate packaging.
“We know how important a post office is in the community,” said Marion. “We take it seriously.”
Increased postal purchases being conducted online, on smart phones, and while shopping has diminished the need to maintain the almost 32,000 retail offices.
The post office will conduct studies to determine which retail stores will close, the studies will be staggered, so it is undetermined when the examination of Roosevelt Island will officially begin; background data is currently being gathered.
Once started, the process will survey post office users in the community; after the USPS receives feedback, they will hold a community meeting. If it’s determined there are sufficient factors in place to serve the community, the post office may be deemed expendable and terminated within three months. During the process, “there’s a possibility some offices may fall out of the study,” said Marion.
Residents say the decision to close their village post office would have negative effects.
“[I] would be very unhappy, because it would be a burden to go across the river to Queens, or over to Manhattan to use the local postal office,” said Rick Connor, a blogger who has lived on Roosevelt Island for over 12 years.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Assemblyman Micah Kellner, city Councilwoman Jessica Lappin, Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation President Leslie Torres, and Chuck Zlatkin of the American Postal Workers Union, also attended the event.
With additional reporting by Jenny Tang
