Postal Service Decides to Delay Office Closures

Press Release

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is applauding a U.S. Postal Service today decision to delay closing post offices until May of 2012. Currently, 30 Maine post offices are on the list for closure.

"This is welcome news for all the small Maine towns that depend on the local post office," said Pingree. "This will give us more time to explain to the Postal Service how critical these offices are for our communities and to come up with a better solution for the service's fiscal problems. There are several things we should be pursuing before closing the door on these Main Street staples. It should also give a little relief to the many people who have contacted me about the issue. I appreciate that the Postal Service is responding to the incredible amount of concern people have voiced."

Pingree has written several letters to the Postal Regulatory Commission and to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe urging the Postal Service to keep local post offices open. She is a cosponsor of legislation that would allow the Postal Service to recoup billions of dollars in overpaid pension benefits.

There are eight offices in Pingree's district currently on the list for closure: Chamberlain in Bristol, Bowdoin, Cliff Island and Station A in Portland, East Parsonsfield, East Vassalboro, Sebasco Estates in Phippsburg, and Trevett in Boothbay Harbor. Matinicus Island was on the list but was recently removed.

Source