What Is The Postal Service Coming To?

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I am really upset. They are thinking of closing a ton of Post Offices in the NY area, and one of them is in my neighborhood, which I have a P.O. Box, and I pay good money for each year. I don't want to run down to the main city in my area because they have parking meters and it is not worth paying to park for a few seconds to pay to park, not to mention the traffic and all. Here is the story on it. Of course I have to add this is not a link to a pay site or anything, so my discussion does not get deleted. TROY — The United States Postal Service is calling its plan to consider closing some 3,700 offices across the country “optimization,” but those who would be directly affected by any local closures have another word for it: inconvenient. That was the consensus of the Lansingburgh Post Office’s patrons Tuesday afternoon, after the USPS released its list of thousands of locations —including Lansingburgh, North Hoosick and three in downtown Albany — it will study to determine the feasibility of closing each branch. The move is an attempt for the flagging postal industry to “optimize (its) retail network,” a press release stated, through “right-sizing” its number of locations. But that reasoning was largely lost on Lansingburgh patrons, who say closure would be the wrong call. Resident Arnold Cook said he’s seen the branch’s staff decrease to just one person per day, while the demand for service remains high, with lines often stretching “out the door, out into the street.” Fellow ’Burgh resident Kaleigh Yates often runs errands for her grandmother — Tuesday she was picking up stamps — and said that especially for the area’s elderly, getting to another post office would be almost impossible. “I just don’t think it’s fair to them,” Yates said. “(This branch is) very convenient and close.” Acknowledging the appeal of competing shipping businesses, Yates said the personal attention doled out by post office employees is the most important aspect of local mail delivery. “We wouldn’t have our mail around here if it weren’t for these people,” she said. “UPS and FedEx are great if you want something overnighted really important, but these guys have always done an exceptional job. I really do believe that (the Postal Service) should consider the voice of Lansingburgh and what we want, because ultimately it’s we the people who will suffer.” Part of that suffering would be traffic trouble, with one local woman bemoaning the cars that would clog the Troy-Waterford Bridge trying to get to the Waterford branch. Michelle Stilson, another Lansingburgh resident, said parking in downtown Troy would be a headache for anyone forced to use that office. Another disappointing aspect to the ’Burgh branch’s potential closure, Stilson said, is the loss of a landmark. In October, the branch was dedicated in honor of Marty Mahar, the late former mayor, city councilman and longtime postal carrier. “Why would they (close the branch) after just going through the ceremony and all of that?” Stilson said. “Mr. Mahar was always local and always involved in Lansingburgh. I can’t imagine how his family must feel.” Despite the looming possibility of closing local branches, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said in a statement that services wouldn’t be lost, but rather would move into local grocery stores, office supply shops, freestanding kiosks, ATMs and other locations, reinventing those branches as what he dubbed “Village Post Offices.” “By working with third-party retailers, we’re creating easier, more convenient access to our products and services when and where our customers want them,” Donahoe said. “…The Postal Service of the future will be smaller, leaner and more competitive and it will continue to drive commerce, serve communities and deliver value.” For a complete list of locations being studied for possible closure, visit http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/expandedaccess/states/newyork.htm This is really sad, as many churches and schools are being shut down in NY, now out Post Offices... What is wrong with this world.