Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel protested the proposed closing of seven Post Office facilities in the Bronx, saying he had already contacted the Postal Service “to express my outrage” over the closings.

In remarks given to Postal authorities for a hearing on the proposed closings at Fordham University Wednesday, Rep. Engel said he was especially troubled by the recommended closing of the Hillside Station (3292 Boston Road) where over 300 post office boxes are used by residents. “This station is an integral part of the community,” he said, “and its closure would be especially damaging to those residents.” He said the station was more than a half a mile from any other postal outlet, making it more difficult for those most in need to send and receive their mail. “I will not accept this, and neither will the people of the Bronx,” he said.

Rep. Engel said of the proposed closings, “I have contacted the USPS recently to express my outrage, and to remind them of the damage to the quality of life of Bronx residents which would occur from these closures.” He said the USPS provides a vital service and “cannot shirk its responsibilities to serve our communities and our country.”

He also said he was aware of the financial problems the Postal Service was having when it ended the second quarter (Jan 1 – March 31, 2009) with a net loss of $1.9 billion. “This is why I voted for legislation to restructure financial requirements and save the USPS billions of dollars,” he said.

But he added that the USPS must continue to adapt to the changing ways Americans communicate. Closing post offices is the wrong solution.
He urged the USPS to find alternative ways to solve its budget crisis, without putting the burden on the people it serves. “I ask they keep their commitment to the Bronx, and to all of the American people who rely on the valuable and, in many cases, irreplaceable service they provide,” he said.