Post offices on the chopping block
Friday, August 7th, 2009
By: Mark Eichmann
meichmann@whyy.org
Hundreds of post office branches nationwide could be shuttered as the U.S. Postal Service struggles to deal with a massive loss in revenue. So far this year, the Postal Service has lost $4.7 billion, and is on track to lose $7 billion for the entire fiscal year.
U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware) says, "Our postal service is in crisis." This week, he led a congressional hearing investigating possible solutions to the revenue drop. Some of those solutions include closing hundreds of post office branches, and reworking some of the requirements for the postal service to fund benefits for postal retirees.
In Pennyslvania, 37 post office branches, 16 in Philadelphia alone, could be closed under the plan. Three New Jersey branches are on the chopping block, but none so far in Delaware.
"It is imperative that the postal service next month be given some measure of fiscal relief," Carper said. "Not a bailout, not lip-service, not berating. Instead, a prudent measure of fiscal relief
Click here to listen to more of Senator Carper's comments on the future of the U.S. Postal Service:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.