Rancho Park Mail Delivery

[joann johnson]

I'm not new to Rancho Park, but I am new to the route around the mall. I'm sure you all have seen me walking around in your neighborhood. I just want you all to know that the mail carriers in your neighborhoods have been put through so much. Honestly, I think the people making these drastic changes in the postal service are doing it purposely to get what they need from Congress. It's all political and we the mail carriers are the frontline....so we get the bulk of complaints.

I'm not sure about the fate of the Postal Service, but I can assure you the changes that went on at Rancho Park during August to present will not stop the hard working carriers that deliver your mail, watch your kids walk home from school, watch your homes when you are away, caring for the elderly as they bring home groceries...etc.

Just like Bob the mailman...we are just doing the best we can with the little staff we have to work with. I lost my customers too. Just be patient with us, I know its late when we get to your homes, but understand, we are walking from 9am to almost 7-8pm at times.

[Coalition to Save the VMPO]

Hi,

Hailing from Venice here, so please forgive this interlude from a neighbor!  Joann, you are not alone; we are all concerned about the fate of the Postal Service.  Mail carriers and supervisory staff at post offices across the nation are being put through unprecedented strain and overwork.  You should be given medals - better yet, more help with the workload!

Communities all over the country are organizing to address the thousands of proposed post office closures - both official and unofficial ("relocations").  It is not to early for Rancho Park to prepare.

Joann is right - the post office issue is political.  Every Post Office is at risk - if not this year, then next year or the year after that. 

The current "Five Year Plan" to reorganize the Postal Service was assembled with the help of one of the firms hired to privatize a number of European service providers after the Cold War ended.  In the guise of a "move to profitability," the plan is designed to move the remainder of the Postal Service's profitable products to private entities, who are not bound by the Postal Service's Universal Service Obligation to provide full and affordable mail delivery to all Americans.

Until 1982, the Postal Service was funded by tax dollars.  At that point, the definition of postal stamps changed to "postal products;" their connection to taxation was severed to help the move to a corporate model.  Thus, the Postal Service has fully supported itself for the last thirty years.  And well it should:  It's required to break even - not run a deficit and not make a profit, because it's a public service ordered to provide equal access to information for all Americans.

Our postal system is considered the most efficient in the world.  In 2006, a law was enacted to force the Postal Service to pre-fund 75 years of employee retirement health care benefits in just 10 years. This requirement was made only of the Postal Service, and it far exceeds what any public or private company is required to do.

Without this unfair burden, the Postal Service would show a surplus this year (A mere 200 million dollars - remember that the Postal Service is not supposed to make a profit!). 

New laws are now being reviewed to relieve this burden.  Venetians, whose post office has already been targeted for closure, are working very hard to save Venice Post Office.  We are meeting with our Councilmember and Congressional representatives to request their support. We even received a support letter from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers!

We need your support, too.  Please consider signing our petition:

http://www.change.org/petitions/rep-henry-waxman-save-the-venice-po...

Saving Venice Post Office will help other communities save theirs, too; succeeding now may help make it unnecessary for Rancho Park to research, organize, hold rallies and contact elected officials. However, if Rancho Park's post office is threatened, be assured that we will be there to help!

Thank you,

Jed Pauker for the Coalition to Save the Venice Post Office

PS - More resources are available here: http://www.facebook.com/savethevenicepostoffice, here:  http://venicenc.org/savethevmpo and here http://savethepostoffice.com.

[joann johnson]

Yes they are all first rate! I will let them know!

[John A. Abel]

I hear you.I've seen the carriers out after dark a few times.Went from Jennifer to Aaron and now Deborah as our carriers and they are all first rate!

[joann johnson]

Anyone with questions or businesses that need help with bulk mailings or bulk parcel pick ups please do not hesitate to ask! I will get you more info or get you in touch with our sales department! Thanks again!

[Orli Belman]

Joann,

Welcome to Rancho Park Online and thanks so  much for delivering mail to our neighborhood. I can literally see the long hours you all are working and know that we get our mail late, it is only because it takes so long to cover your new larger routes. Stay dry today and  thanks literally for keeping us posted here in our online community and in our homes.

Orli