Schumer: Keep Pitcher Street Post Office Open for Business

Press Release

Today, during a one-on-one meeting, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the incoming Postmaster General, Megan Brennan, to keep the City of Utica's Pitcher Street Post Office open for business. Schumer's request comes after he successfully secured a commitment from outgoing Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe in 2012 that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) would keep the Utica facility open following postal reforms in 2011. Schumer went to bat for the Pitcher Street location after it was revealed in 2011 that the USPS was studying whether to close or consolidate it. Schumer is now calling on the incoming Postmaster General to keep the center alive and he vowed to continue to fight to keep the Pitcher Street location open as long as possible. Schumer said the facility is too important to the Mohawk Valley region, and its 100 employees, to be shuttered. Schumer said that while he recognizes the importance of making cost-saving reforms in order to preserve the Post Office's vital services, closing the Pitcher Street location be a major blow to the community and the center's employees.

"Utica and Mohawk Valley businesses, residents, and senior citizens rely on the Pitcher St. service location for timely and reliable mail service that delivers everything from paychecks to Social Security payments. Back in 2011 and 2012, I urged Postmaster General Donahoe to keep this facility open as long as possible. That is why, today, I am urging incoming Postmaster General Brennan to honor that commitment. While I recognize the importance of making cost-saving reforms in order to preserve the Post Office's vital services, closing the Pitcher Street Post Office would be a major blow to the community and to the facility's 100 employees," said Schumer.

In 2011, under the USPS proposal, Schumer argued that closing the Utica plant, a nationally ranked facility, would negatively impact the quality, productivity and efficiency of the U.S. Postal Service. Schumer joined local officials to argue that, in addition to putting up to 100 jobs at risk, service standards would be negatively affected. While some operations were ultimately consolidated into Syracuse, thanks to Schumer's efforts the Pitcher Street post office remained open for business. A closure would reroute mail service to surrounding areas, decreasing lead time and detouring consumers and business alike that expect service to remain efficient.

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