Post Office Pitch Worries Lindenhurst Residents

Saturday mail service will soon be a thing of the past.

The Plan
The struggling United States Postal Service has unveiled a plan to reduce operating costs that includes reducing mail delivery to five days a week, Monday to Friday, according to news reports.

The change, which would go into effect on August 1, only impacts first-class mail, while packages, mail-order medicines, priority and express mail would still get delivered on Saturdays, according to CBS News.

Post offices would still remain open on Saturdays, reported the Huffington Post.

The Law
Although the Postal Service "receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations," as stated on its website, it's governed by Congress, and had been hoping members would pass legislation to help lessen its financial burdens.

"It's unclear at the moment how the Postal Service has the authority to quit delivering letters on Saturdays. Previously they've said they need Congress to change current law to do so," according to CNN Money.

But according to CBS News, lawyers for the Postal Service think they've "figured out a way around the law."

Various news reports said the Postal Service needs 10s of billions of dollars to be saved. In July 2011 the Postal Service announced the closure of 3,600 post offices across the country to save money. Currently the USPS operates a branch on East Hoffman Avenue in Lindenhurst Village.

Residents Express Concern
On Facebook some Lindenhurst Patch readers showed some concern about the pitch to stop weekend delivery.

Jackie Connelly Fornuff wrote: "Since I'm in real estate documents are still sent through the mail, like contracts, and this will delay transactions more than they already are."

Angela Vanleuvan Simpson said: "When bills have to be there on a certain date so you don't get a late fee, or so they don't cut the power off, cable, etc., this might be a problem! Checks will be late, and some people live paycheck to paycheck! If packages are held up that needs to be frozen, or a gift, then that'll cause the sender worries!"

Ronald Rizzo added: "I'd miss getting mail on Saturdays. Those two days without mail can definitely make a difference if you're expecting a check and you're on a fixed income."

Christine DeBenedetto had a postal carrier's perspective: "Been carrying for 15 years now...mail's still heavy...routes are longer...no more help for us long-timers....walk for six hours now...can you imagine how much longer on a Tuesday when a holiday falls on a Monday?"

To read more reader responses visit the Lindenhurst Patch Facebook page. And share your thoughts in the comments section, below.

Related Coverage:

• Post Office to Keep Saturday Mail Delivery
• Post Office Pitch Worries Lindenhurst Residents
• Stamp Prices Increasing This Week
• Sound Off: Is Cutting Mail Delivery Necessary?
• Daily Q July 26: Post Office Closures

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