The United States Postal Service will hire more postal workers and address mail fishing after it met with local House lawmakers last week.
This comes in response to complaints from residents over misplaced or delayed mail. Elected officials demanded answers from USPS officials on mail problems. U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica, Laurelton, Rosedale, Cambria Heights, Saint Albans, Springfield Gardens, Far Rockaway, JFK Airport), who attended the meeting, told residents last month at a State of the District meeting that he and other Queens officials would meet with USPS about the lack of adequate mail service.
Meeks and other House lawmakers met with USPS leaders last week to address resident concerns about mail service in the borough. While he did praise the changes, Meeks remained vigilant about services for his constituents.
“I’ll continue to hold USPS accountable as it attempts to fix outstanding mail issues in my district.,” Meeks said.
The United States Postal Service will also address mail fishing, or mail fraud involving people stealing checks from mailboxes to enrich themselves, after concerns with deposit boxes across the borough. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Bayside, Flushing, Forest Hills, Rego Park, Fresh Meadows, Glendale, Kew Gardens, Maspeth) requested USPS ensure the safety of mail after the prevalence of fraud.
Meng explained she often received complaints from residents about missing packages, poor customer service at post office branches, and wrong mail sent to homes.
“During the recent meeting Rep. Meeks and I had with USPS representatives, we made our complaints loud and clear, and Postal officials clearly heard about the problems impacting our constituents. It is imperative that the agency now follow through on its commitment to resolve these issues, and we will keep the pressure on until they do,” Meng said.
U.S. Rep. and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-Sunnyside, Astoria, College Point, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona, Woodside, The Bronx) also anticipated the changes for Queens residents.
“Hiring additional mail carriers is a promising first step to fix the chronic service delays in Queens and the Bronx, and I look forward to working with USPS to continue improving delivery service in the outer boroughs. Fully resolving these issues is a long-term project but I will continue to work with local leaders and USPS officials to ensure the right changes are being made,” he said.
House officials weren’t the only ones to praise USPS. City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park, Howard Beach, Lindenwood), whose office also had issues with mail service, welcomed changes to USPS in Queens.
“It is unacceptable that residents have had such unreliable postal service,” said Ulrich. “I am pleased to hear that USPS has taken my concerns seriously and will hire additional postal workers to ensure my constituents receive the service they deserve.”
