Montpelier Post Office Closing?

A recent Wall Street Journal article noted that

Beginning in March, the [US Postal Service] will start the process of closing as many as 2,000 post offices, on top of the 491 it said it would close starting at the end of last year. In addition, it is reviewing another 16,000—half of the nation’s existing post offices—that are operating at a deficit, and lobbying Congress to allow it to change the law so it can close the most unprofitable among them. The law currently allows the postal service to close post offices only for maintenance problems, lease expirations or other reasons that don’t include profitability. {emphasis added}

Rumor has it that Montpelier’s own Post Office, across from Montpelier Mansion, will be one of those closed. Via the community listserv, a Montpelierite reported that in noting the temperature inside the office last week, one of the regular postal staff mentioned that the heating wasn’t working and the USPS doesn’t plan to fix it…. as their lease was up in April.

A number of neighbors have spoken up on this issue via the community listserv. Some have questioned the continued viability of the postal service, given email and other modern technology, and whether the demand exists to keep the Montpelier branch open. The majority of comments so far however expressed a deep concern for the loss of the community’s local post office and have noted how long the line can be on Saturdays and around holidays.

This is an important concern for Montpelierites, and will almost certainly be the topic of discussion as Congress debates the federal budget in the coming weeks and months. If we are to rally in support of Montpelier’s branch — the next nearest branches are in Laurel Mall and on Main Street Laurel — we’ll need to show our support to our elected federal representatives.

Calls to Montpelier’s representative, Congressman Steny Hoyer‘s DC office this week suggested that the Congressman’s staff was not aware of the possible closing of the Montpelier branch. Residents who want to express their concern about the waste of time, gasoline and air pollution driving to more distant branches should contact Congressman Hoyer (202-225-4131, or by email) and Senators Barbara Mikulski (202-224-4654, email) and Benjamin Cardin (202-224-4524, email). In addition, please contact Mary Lehman, our new County Council representative at 301-952-3887 or by email.