Stockton officials join Congressman on conference call with USPS

January 22, 2010

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-11) yesterday spoke with officials from the United States Postal Service to urge the continuation of services at the Tuxedo Park post office in Stockton. The USPS is in the process of reviewing proposals to close or consolidate facilities across the country, including the Tuxedo Park post office on Pacific Avenue.  

McNerney’s conference call with post office officials follows a letter sent by the Congressman late last week pushing USPS to keep the location open and requesting the meeting.  The letter is the second such correspondence sent by the Congressman to the United States Postal Service regarding the Tuxedo Park location.  Congressman McNerney first contacted the Postal Service on this matter in October of last year.

During the call, Congressman McNerney, along with Stockton Mayor Ann Johnston, Councilmember Diana Lowery, and Interim City Manager Kevin O’Rourke, expressed concern for the potential closure and urged the continuation of operations at the Tuxedo Park location.

The text of the January 15, 2010 letter is below:    

January 15, 2010

U.S. Postmaster General John Potter
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20260-0010

Dear Postmaster General Potter:

I am writing to again bring your attention to my concerns about potential reductions in postal services at the Tuxedo Park postal facility at 2616 Pacific Avenue in Stockton, CA.  I understand that no final decisions have been made about the continued operations of this site, and I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize again that continued operation of this facility is of great importance to the surrounding community.

The Tuxedo Park office serves a wide range of customers including senior citizens, college students, neighborhood residents, and employees of local businesses.  Many people, especially low income individuals and people with limited means of transportation, may find it difficult to access the next closest postal location, which is more than two miles away by foot and almost three and a half miles by car.  To access the nearest facility, pedestrians must use roads that do not have sidewalks and pass through a railroad crossing.  Several local businesses also depend on quick access to the Tuxedo Park location for their daily operations.  

The City of Stockton is committed to keeping this location open, and the City Council recently adopted a resolution expressing the City’s deep concerns about the proposed closure.  

I understand that the Postal Service faces many difficult decisions as it copes with the economic downturn.  However, I continue to urge you to maintain full postal services in Stockton.  I look forward to working with you to continue improving the mail system and request a meeting with you or a senior official to discuss the Tuxedo Park location at your earliest convenience.  Please feel free to contact me or my staff at (202) 225-1947 to schedule this meeting.

Sincerely,

Jerry McNerney
Member of Congress