NEWS
RELEASE
CONTACT: GARY L.
POELSTRA
800-572-9483
ext.110
www.auspl.com
National League Of
Postmasters and Association of United States Postal Lessors Join Forces to
Fight Closure of Rural Post Offices
COSTA MESA, September 4,
2003— The National League of Postmasters
(NLPM) and the Association of United States Postal Lessors (AUSPL) are
drawing up plans to stop the wholesale closure of small and unprofitable
post offices in towns and communities nationwide without due process. The
joint effort is a result of the recent recommendations for the future of
the United States Postal Service made by a nine-member, bipartisan
commission established by President Bush last year.
“We understand it’s necessary to
streamline operations of USPS, but it’s only fair postal lessors are
informed and given reasons why their facility is being closed,” said Gary
Poelstra, AUSPL president. AUSPL is the largest association for postal
lessors, currently serving more than 2,100 members nationwide. Since 1981,
the nonprofit organization has helped individuals and organizations that
own post offices better manage their business. As a collective body,
members own approximately 30% of space leased to the Postal Service.
Members range from “mom and pop” owners of one or two post offices to
those owning multiple facilities to others who own 100 or more buildings.
“We don’t believe small post
offices should be closed solely as a cost-cutting strategy,” said Poelstra.
Steve LeNoir, president of NLPM agrees. In oral and written testimony
before the President’s Commission LeNoir said, “Rural and inner city post
offices are often perceived as money losers, but this is not a true
picture. While the postal revenue is collected where the mailer enters the
mail into our system, the cost of delivering the mail is borne by the post
office that ultimately delivers the piece. To say that over half of the
post offices lose money is not a fair analysis.”
The National League of
Postmasters advocates for current and retired postmasters nationwide, from
the smallest to the largest facilities. Sixty-two percent of the
approximately 27,000 postmasters are non-exempt, meaning they supervise
less than two employees. The 62% comprises small post offices located in
rural America.
AUSPL, NLPM and NLPM’s
legislative counsel are drawing up plans for the most effective ways to
fight the closure of rural post offices. The Commission’s report,
delivered on July 31, 2003 to the President and Congress, recommended
lifting the restrictions on closing “money-losing” rural post offices. The
Commission sees benefits in providing mail services via kiosks in shopping
malls, banks and grocery stores. We maintain that a kiosk cannot take the
place of personalized service that citizens receive at a post office.
Seniors and other citizens rely on their local post offices to pay bills,
conduct business and socialize. Some facilities serve as bus stops,
ensuring a safe drop off for children.
AUSPL is encouraging its
members and other postal lessors to write their Representatives and
Senators, urging them to oppose any attempts to weaken the Postal Service.
Sample letters and more information is available online at
www.auspl.com.
The National League of
Postmasters is monitoring the situation closely and will likely again
testify before the Commission. In previous testimony, NLPM President Steve
LeNoir suggested expanding non-postal services at post offices, including
banking, savings bond sales and redemption, voter registration, ATM
machines, fax or copy services, money transfers, notary public services
and even computer services. Additionally, he suggested using post offices
to assist with the administration of Medicare and federal prescription
drug programs. Many seniors receive medications through the mail when
there are no pharmacies nearby.
“We believe post offices must
be measured by the service they provide, and not be judged solely on
financial considerations,” said LeNoir.
AUSPL and NLPM believe rural
customers deserve access to postal services just like customers in
metropolitan areas. Over 55 million people live in rural America and
having a post office is important to them. The cost of universal service
is a small portion of the USPS $70 billion budget. The cost of the 10,000
smallest post offices is less than one percent of the total budget.
“The Commission will hold more
hearings this fall. If and when its recommendations go into effect, it
will mean the Postal Service can move out of the lessors’ buildings with
no accountability to the customers it serves,” said AUSPL President Gary
Poelstra. “We don’t think it’s fair to close a facility, disrupt the lives
of seniors and other citizens without due process; our country was founded
on such principles.”
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