Critz Plans Petition/Appeals Events for Local Post Offices Targeted for Closure

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Mark S. Critz (PA-12) announced today that he will be holding “Protect Our Rural Post Offices” events for residents to sign petitions against the targeted closure of local post offices and to file appeal in the event that these post offices are closed.

As part of plans to cut $20 billion in costs by 2015, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has proposed closing more than 3,700 post offices and about 250 mail-processing.  Thirty-three rural post offices have been targeted for closure in the 12th Congressional District of Pennsylvania.  Closures that Congressman Critz says can be avoided if Congress passes H.R. 1351, a bill he cosponsored to help solve the USPS’s fiscal problems.

In addition to the petition, those who attend will be able to file their reasons for appeal in the event that their post office is closed.  Congressman Critz won a major victory for these rural communities when the Postal Service announced last month that decisions on the closings have been delayed until May 2012.  Once closings are announced, residents will have a limited time to file individual appeals which must be considered by the USPS.

“By holding a petition drive and getting appeals in order beforehand, I can guarantee that every persons appeal is delivered on time for the Postmaster to consider,” said Congressman Critz.

In addition to holding these signings in communities targeted for closure, Congressman Critz will also hold events in similar rural communities not yet targeted so that residents in these communities can show support for other rural areas and perhaps stave off future closings.

“I believe that these closures were done unfairly and that they understated the importance of rural post offices to our local communities,” added Congressman Critz.  “I encourage residents to attend one of these petition and appeals events so that the people driving these closures understand they are not dealing with small towns, they are dealing with small town America and we simply don’t take these things lightly.” 

Below are the locations and times for the “Protect Our Rural Post Offices” events:

January 19, 2012

5:30-7:30

Cassandra Borough Building

111 Portage Street

Cassandra, PA 15925

January 20, 2012

5:30-7:30

Acosta Volunteer Fire Department

428 Acosta Road

Acosta, PA 15520

January 23, 2012

5:30-7:30

Emeigh United Methodist Church, Social Hall

Main Street and Laura Street

Emeigh, PA 15738

January 24, 2012

5:30-7:30

Mount Laurel United Church of Christ (*For Gray Post Office*)

1209 Keysertown Road

Boswell, PA 15531