1,700 Submissions Show Widespread Negative Impacts of Facility Consolidation

August 6, 2015

TUCSON – U.S. Representative Martha McSally today joined members of the Arizona Congressional delegation to deliver the results a recent survey detailing the impacts of the proposed Cherrybell Post Office and Processing Center consolidation. The results showed an overwhelming majority of respondents experienced noticeable delays in mail delivery, including delays in receipts of veterans benefits, medications, and payments for regular business transactions.

The full letter text follows. Megan J. Brennan
Postmaster General
United States Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20260
Dear Postmaster General Brennan:

As members of the Arizona delegation we are writing to inform you of the results of an extensive community survey regarding the impacts of the consolidation of the Tucson Postal Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC)/Cherrybell. We appreciate the U.S. Postal Service’s announcement to delay phase II consolidation at Cherrybell into 2016; however there remains great uncertainty regarding how the negative consequences of the consolidation will be addressed moving forward.

The survey, conducted by Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, Vice Mayor Richard Fimbres, the Tucson City Council and various local business and community organizations, collected more than 1,700 submissions expressing concern.  The vast majority of respondents, 84.0 percent of individuals and 86.0 percent of businesses, reported a noticeable delay in their mail delivery services since the first phase of consolidation stopped the processing of some outbound mail.

Overall, respondents widely reported waiting additional days for medicines, delays in Veterans benefits and medications and delays in receipts and payments for regular business transactions.  These delays are not merely a nuisance, but can be costly in terms of health impacts and businesses’ most fundamental operations, such as meeting their payroll.  Numerous concerns have been raised regarding a major barrier for non-profit organizations to reach members and potential funders through direct mail.  Additionally, there are serious concerns regarding the Phoenix postal center’s ability to takeover timely processing of personal items such as tax payments, bills, school transcripts and personal holiday cards.

We appreciate your efforts to protect Tucson and surrounding communities from the negative impacts of consolidation, but do not believe there is a feasible path forward to address the concerns of the community if the facility is closed.  We ask that you review the attached survey summary and provide us with information on how the numerous concerns will be addressed.

Sincerely,

The survey summary can be found HERE.