Although U.S. Postal officials say a final decision on the closing of Cheraw’s downtown facility will be made in less than 30 days, they have agreed to send a copy of Cheraw Mayor Andy Ingram’s pre-written survey to every resident in the 29520 zip code.
A public forum with representatives from the U.S. Postal Service, held last Thursday evening at the Cheraw Community Center, attacted about 75 residents. They were loaded with traffic statistics and alternative solutions, hoping to sway a decision to move Cheraw’s postal services to the annex building on Highway 9.
U.S. Postal Representative Bryan Cramer told Thursday’s audience the Postal Service “decided not to accept the city’s (Cheraw’s) plan — this will be a relocation.” He then gave several reasons. The modular units, suggested by city officials, “are only considered as a 15-year option,” said Cramer. The brick structure on Highway 9, built in 1998, provides a 50-year option. Cramer also said the use of ramps to transport mail to and from the modular units would create problems in safety for employees and could possibly compromise the condition of the mail in bad weather. Liability, in terms of security, is also an issue with modular units, said Cramer.
Opponents to the closing told postal officials the loss of mail services downtown would only be part of the problem Cheraw residents would then face. Economically, they say, the loss of traffic generated by trips to the post office will impact many local businesses downtown.
Harry Spratlin, spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service, said, “Further comments from the public will be accepted until Monday, Sept. 3, as part of this forum.” Those comments may be mailed to Public Comments, Cheraw Relocation, P.O. Box 929993, Columbia, SC 29292-9993.
The fate of USPS - our country's most trusted public service - is being mismanaged by Congress - our country's least trusted public servants.
Make no mistake - the post office fire sale is about one thing only: Selling Federal property and historic resources - but not to benefit USPS, because the sale revenue amounts to a small sliver of the USPS annual budget - and none of that budget comes from taxpayers.
Buy a stamp, send a letter. Postal Service revenue comes directly from the people who use it.
It's a simple and balanced system. But Congress singlehandedly - and brutally - threw USPS off balance.
This Great Recession - not the internet - is responsible for the decline in First Class mail receipts since the high-water mark of 2006.
Is it a coincidence that, at the end of that banner year (mere months before Wall Street criminals ran off with our money), Congress passed a bill that slapped USPS with a unique and crushing $5.5 billion annual debt?
The 2006 "Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act" is the one cause of today's manufactured crisis on USPS's balance sheet.
Our own Congress is forcing USPS to tear the hearts out of our communities.
Created by our government, with taxpayer money, to keep all Americans informed, USPS is instead selling off OUR public assets to benefit a handful of people for whom the word "enough" has no meaning.
They are selling off post offices in Minnesota, Washington, New Jersey, here in California - where Senator Feinstein's husband Richard Blum chairs CBRE, the company that holds the exclusive contract to sell post offices.
Tell USPS that you know their troubles come from bad legislation.
HR2309 is currently awaiting action by a lame duck House after the election. Tell your Congressperson to oppose HR2309 and pass HR3591. And tell your US Senator to recall S1789 and pass S1853.
The future is in our hands - if we choose to shape it.
Judie Kopfman
Cheraw,SC