U.S. Postal Service Community Meetings Tuesday Night

The fate of four Newark post offices will be discussed Tuesday night, in the wake of United States Postal Service's announcement that it will be downsizing operations.

Two community meetings will be held at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night at the main post office at 2 Federal Sq., serving as an opportunity for residents to voice concerns about the possible closures of the Vailsburg, Roseville, South and Midtown stations in Newark.

"The important thing to recognize is the fact that no decisions have been made yet," said George B. Flood, USPS spokesperson in the northeast area, in an email. "Meaningful community input is an important part of the decision analysis and all written comments become part of the official record."

USPS is conducting studies of nearly 3,700 retail post offices nationwide to the agency announced in July. Currently, there are eight post offices within Newark limits, though the city has branches in neighboring towns, according to Flood. As of July, USPS was comprised of 32,000 retail postal retail stores and more than 70,000 third-party retailers.

Earlier this month, the cash-strapped USPS announced $3 billion in reductions, including cutting down on first-class mail next spring by changing delivery standards from 1-3 days to 2-3 days.

A decision on which post offices will be closed is expected in late March or early April, Flood said.

Councilman Ronald C. Rice said shuttering the Vailsburg and Roseville offices would be "devastating" to the West Ward community, which he represents. Senior citizens, small businesses and residents who rely on post office boxes to securely receive mail would be the hardest hit, he said.

"It really cuts across many residents, many businesses, many age groups who depend on them particularly when there's no alternative," he said. "These operations will cease to exist and, as far as we know, will never come back online. That's devastating to the work we're trying to do to improve the ward."

The potential closures have been the topic of discussion at recent West Ward Block Federation meetings, prompting members to create online petitions to save the Vailsburg and Roseville post offices.

"The cost is greater the need is greater, the dependency is greater in the city than dare I say a suburban town," said Rice, who will speak at Tuesday's meeting.

At the Vailsburg post office Monday afternoon, it was business as usual for Charles Bell, who lives just around the corner from the 7th Avenue office. Bell, 69, said that while closing the post office would be an "inconvenience," he'd have no problem driving to the one on Springfield Avenue nearly two miles away.

"I feel sorry for people who don't drive, and senior citizens in the area," said Bell. "That's gonna be a heavy toll."

"It's a done deal because they're (USPS) going broke," he added.

Residents can also complete a questionnaire mailed to their home and available at the counter in the post office being studied. Comments can also be sent to Manager, Consumer & Industry Contact, 494 Broad St., Newark, NJ 07102-9.