USPS Deficit Puts City Post Offices On The Chopping Block

By: Courtney Gross

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The United States Postal Service announced Tuesday that the price of stamps will rise by a penny in January as a result of a large deficit, and officials say over 30 post offices across the city face closure. NY1’s Courtney Gross filed the following report.

Dozens of post offices across the five boroughs may soon be hearing the closing bell. This summer, the U.S. Postal Service said it would explore closing more than 3,000 post offices across the country, and 34 of those are in New York City.

On Tuesday, officials announced stamps would rise from 44 cents to 45 in January.

It's all a response to a crippling deficit: a net loss of $3.1 billion in the third quarter. Mail volume is also down as more consumers turn online.

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney was able to convince the USPS to take a Long Island City post office off of the chopping block, but the fate of many others is unknown.

"We've saved this post office. It's signed, sealed and delivered. We have other post offices that we have to work hard to save for our communities," said Maloney.

A spokesperson for the post office said in a statement, "Our customer's habits have made it clear that they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business."

To some public officials and advocates, the proposed post office closures disproportionately affect minorities or low-income neighborhoods.

"In low-income communities and communities of color, where people don't have the type of money to send FedEx, the post office really provides incredible services," said Brooklyn and Queens Representative Nydia Velazquez.

Ultimately, advocates say communities could lose out on much-needed services.

"They're a major source of money orders, transfers, everything that poor people need that they don't have. I hope they don't base these closings on revenue and expense, ‘cause they may miss vital services that are occurring particularly in inner city post offices,” said David Jones of the Community Service Society of New York.

All told, the Bronx could lose 17 branches. Queens and Brooklyn may each see five closures, while six may be closed on Manhattan and one on Staten Island.

USPS officials say those communities will get word on the fate of their local office by January 2012.