Owens: Merge Threatened Post Offices with Rural Businesses

by Timothy W. Scee II
Special to Newzjunky.com
Published December 9, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C.  —  Rep. William L. Owens, D-Plattsburgh, has proposed a bill aimed to help communities maintain or reopen closed post office locations following more expected closures from the United States Postal Service as the agency faces possible bankruptcy. 

Owens said the USPS would be forced to consider moving U.S. post offices on its closure list into either local community businesses or government buildings, under his Community Postal Service Preservation Act, partly to save the agency money as it finds ways to cut $3 billion in expenses from its budget.

“This is extremely important because this has been a real big issue, particularly on the rural communities,” Owens said Thursday in a conference call with reporters.

When asked with which types of community business the USPS would likely merge, Owens told Newzjunky.com there would be more of a focus on small businesses over big box stores. 

“In many respects I think that’s most appropriate because, if you will, the mom and pop operations have close ties to the communities and are really able to enhance the personal service that is provided,” Owens said. “Clearly, I think it should be open to all who want to participate.”

In the instance that a business merged with a post office should fail or be forced to close, Owens the post office’s only option to again be saved would be to move. 

“When you talk about the idea that you may have a business go out, that simply means relocating,” Owens said. “That’s something we really don’t have control over, but it’s better to relocate it than not have any postal service in that community.”

About 15 locations in the 23rd Congressional District are being considered for closure as part of the agency’s four-year effort to find more efficient ways to incorporate societal changes, including the advent of e-mail, into its business model.

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