Lawmakers seek meeting after USPS fails to respond to requests for information about decision to close Sioux City Facility
July 15, 2011
Washington D.C.- Congressman Steve King (R-IA) announces that he, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), have requested a meeting with Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to discuss the Postal Service’s plan to move the operations of the Sioux City Processing and Distribution Facility to a facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The lawmakers are requesting a face-to-face meeting with the Postmaster General to discuss the Postal Service’s failure to respond to concerns the lawmakers and the community have expressed about the Sioux City AMP decision. King, Grassley and Harkin made this request by letter to the Postmaster General.
Statement from Congressman Steve King:
“For months, Siouxlanders have been asking the Postal Service for critical information regarding the decision to close Sioux City’s mail processing center. Nearly a month ago, I joined our senators in asking the Postal Service to allow the community the opportunity to provide informed input about the plan to close the facility and to meet with city officials to discuss possible alternatives to closure. We also asked that a new decision be made in light of the community’s input. To date we’ve received no response from the Postmaster General, so I look forward to asking him these questions in person,” King said.
Statement from Senator Chuck Grassley:
“A meeting would help to establish accountability, which has been lacking in the way the Postal Service handled its decision making about the Sioux City center. The Postal Service holds a public trust, and the public deserves a response, in this case through their elected representatives,” Grassley said.
Statement from Senator Tom Harkin:
“It is imperative we meet with the Postmaster General. I have had concerns that the Postal Service has been more interested in checking a box in terms of receiving public input than in truly hearing from the community and addressing citizens’ concerns.
“This is a significant matter to Sioux City and western Iowa. Many important questions have remained unanswered and I am committed to ensuring Iowans’ voices are heard before the USPS makes such a critical decision impacting the communities, businesses and jobs in Western Iowa,” Harkin said
text of letter sent to PMG:
Mr. Patrick R. Donahoe
Postmaster General &
Chief Executive Officer
United States Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW Room 10022
Washington, DC 20260-0010
Dear Postmaster General Donahoe,
We are writing to request a meeting with you to discuss the many still unanswered questions and requests that have been raised by us and our constituents regarding the Postal Service’s decision to move the operations of the Processing and Distribution Facility in Sioux City, Iowa to the Sioux Falls, South Dakota Processing and Distribution Center.
Nearly a month ago, on June 20th, we wrote to you to communicate our concerns with how the Sioux City AMP decision was reached and the limited information from and interaction with the Postal Service that the community members and leaders were given. We also asked that you provide the community with the opportunity to review the AMP data and provide input about that data before any additional action was taken with regard to closing the Sioux City Processing and Distribntion Facility, and we asked that Postal Service officials meet with the City of Sioux City to discuss possible alternatives to closing Sioux City’s facility and that a new decision be made, taking full account of the community’s input. We have not received any response to this request, and so we ask that you meet with us to discuss thes·e issues in person.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Steve King
United States Representatives
Chuck Grassley
United States Senator
Tom Harkin
United States Senator
lets start saving money at the usps by cutting the fat at the top not the bottom.
Would everyone PLEASE not be SO eager to destroy the Post Office !! Please! Politicians say that what this country needs is more good paying jobs……then are quick to say we are TOO well paid and should be eliminated. These are the same people who get FREE postage in order to communicate with their constituents…..a very nice perk which I have yet to hear one of them want to give up! Oh…..and let’s not forget SPECIAL treatment for their campaign literature and ads…..you know, third class rates for first class processing and delivery……no offers to give that up, either. Let’s PLEASE keep in mind that the U.S Mail is the the most basic and secure method for communication, just as it has been for HUNDREDS of years. It HAS NOT outlived its usefullness! Politicians should be ESPECIALLY aware of this, because it is how they can can keep in contact with ALL the people they represent. Not everyone has a telephone. Not everyone has a computer. BUT, almost everyone has a mail box, and if they don’t, they can go to the local post office (while there still is one) and receive mail General Delivery. And, by the same token, anyone…..even a homeless person…..can communicate with anyone else, up to and including, the president for less than the price of a cup of coffee. Plus, no one will hack into your private correspondence……it is the MOST safe and secure method of communication we have…..and that, in large part, due to the fine and dedicated workforce of the USPS. After all, we take a sacred oath as we enter employment with the Postal Service, just like law enforcement and the military. So let’s just think about that ALSO for a minute…..does anyone really want some teenager at the local convenience store to be entrusted with the sanctity of the mail? I don’t think so. We have a dedicated workforce PRECISELY because we ARE well paid. People who get hired in tend to make it a career and are proud of the service they provide to their fellow citizens. Let’s keep it that way. SAVE THE POST OFFICE!!
I value all the people of my district. Especially the rich ones!!
Issa would fight to the death over the closure of ANY post office his his territory!!!
I hate when Boehner says “The American People”…as if he’s referring to 100%.
He should say the minority of “The American People” which represents 46%.
The other 53% want taxes raised!!!
Can’t USPS close something in ISSA’s district?
Haven’t heard so much crying from congress since BRAC.
This action will not adversely affect timely delivery; politicans must insure cost effective operations take place to reduce debt laden USPS. Congress should support any actions to reduce USPS debt ceiling or let taxpayers pay for the service no longer needed into days advanced communication evolutions as new APPS are constantly becomming available. Congress should be aware that taxpayers have no desire to pay the USPS wasted expenses and this will result in POLITICANS loosing votes and most would sell their sole(sic) to the devil to avoid loosing a vote.
It’s the lawmakers obligation to pursue such request from their constituents, but unfortunately they are not the only ones victimized by consolidation. No preferential treatment or intimidation from any lawmaker is going to change anything with the USPS. So relax, enjoy the hot air balloon festival in July, a fun event.
The USPS is stuck between a rock and a hard place, with all the self generated stinking oozing fungus necessary, to choke any and all public opposition!
Perhaps Mr. King could explain how this request fits with his view of shrinking the evil government. Mr. King has taken every opportunity to beat up on public employees and public institutions. His position here smacks of the worst kind of hypocrisy.
It’s good to ignore the stinking politicians. They ignore the will of the people everyday. Politicians make lousy pets. Very seldom do they obey their masters; the American Taxpayer.