Letter to Patrick Donahoe, Postmaster General and CEO of the US Postal Service - Tucson Mail Facility Should Remain in Operation

Letter

October 27, 2014

Patrick R. Donahoe
Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer
United States Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plaza, Southwest
Washington, DC 20260

Dear Postmaster General Donahoe:

In light of the recent findings revealed by the USPS Inspector General detailing a lack of an impact analysis and public engagement on planned service standard changes in phase 2 of USPS postal center consolidations, we write to urge you to reconsider your decision to proceed with consolidation of the Tucson Postal Processing & Distribution Center (Tucson P&DC/Cherrybell). We are deeply concerned that consolidation, particularly in the absence of a thorough and transparent evaluation, will have a significant impact on the communities in our districts.

Arizona is one of the fastest-growing states in the country with a diverse population that lives in urban, rural and tribal communities. We have a large elderly and military veteran population that depends on the timely delivery of mail services for Medicare, Social Security checks and vital medications. Additionally, our business community relies greatly on USPS to deliver time-sensitive materials and depends on the bulk mailing discounts that will be in jeopardy under the proposed plan.

As we understand, to accomplish the proposed next phase of consolidations, the service standard for first-class mail delivery will have to be changed. Such a change would eliminate the availability of overnight service for a large portion of first-class mail and periodicals, shifting delivery of mail to two-to-three days depending on its classification. Such a change in standards will inevitably delay national mail delivery, and in our case, with the potential of having only one processing center in Arizona, could disproportionately impact communities throughout our districts and state.

We strongly believe that the consolidation of all of the state's mail processing operations into one facility merits a detailed evaluation in a fair and transparent manner. A full evaluation of proposed consolidations as part of a national review of postal facilities is what USPS customers and employees deserve. The postal reform legislation pending in Congress would ensure that USPS take an approach that is both open and accountable to the public and their elected representatives.

We urge you to reconsider the decision to consolidate Tucson P&DC/Cherrybell. USPS should maintain the current standard for first-class mail, conduct the required feasibility studies and engage our constituents in a process that takes into full account the needs of business and individual customers.

We look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

Raúl Grijlava
Member of Congress

Ron Barber
Member of Congress

Ed Pastor
Member of Congress

Ann Kirkpatrick
Member of Congress

Kyrsten Sinema
Member of Congress