Number
110539
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALDs. COGGS, WADE, DAVIS AND HAMILTON
Title
Resolution relating to assessment by the U.S. Postal Service of continued postal services in the Milwaukee central city, and urging the Postmaster General and the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission to maintain affordable, secure and dependable postal services in the City.
Analysis
The U. S. Postal Service (USPS) has announced its intention to assess whether discontinuance or conversion of 5 post offices in the City of Milwaukee is appropriate given factors that include workloads, customer demand and availability of alternative services. These 5 post offices are identified as the Mid City, Parklawn, Teutonia, Hampton and Dr. Martin Luther King facilities, all located in primarily African-American neighborhoods serving approximately 160,000 City residents.
This resolution urges the Postmaster General and the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission to maintain the full spectrum of affordable, dependable and secure USPS services now available to residents of the City, and particularly those residents of the inner-city who rely upon physically accessible services, timely mail delivery, and post office box services.
Body
Whereas, The U. S. Postal Service (USPS) has announced plans to study the potential closure or conversion of 41 post offices in the State of Wisconsin including 5 in the inner-city of Milwaukee known as the Mid City, Parklawn, Teutonia, Hampton and Dr. Martin Luther King Post Offices; and
Whereas, The 5 City post offices under consideration for closure serve neighborhoods with a population of approximately 160,000 residents, more than 80% of whom are African-American and where the median annual household income is less than $30,000; and
Whereas, The USPS was established under provisions of the U.S. Constitution, and is charged under the principles of universal service obligation (USO) to provide a range of products, access to services and facilities, delivery frequency, affordable and uniform pricing, service quality, and security of the mail; and
Whereas, Many residents of the affected neighborhoods do not have easy access to transportation and must rely upon postal service centers within walking distance or within close proximity to homes and businesses; and
Whereas, The 5 City post offices under consideration for closure provide approximately 3,400 postal boxes to area residents and businesses, and many of these residents and businesses rely on postal boxes for permanent mailing addresses due to frequent changes in housing and business location; and
Whereas, Closure of City post offices will likely result in a loss of jobs in the inner-city at a time of economic recession that disproportionately affects the lives and livelihoods of inner-city residents; and
Whereas, The USPS has announced that the process for studying potential closure or conversion of post offices will be conducted over a period of 120 to 160 days and decisions may be made as early as the end of November, 2011; and
Whereas, The USPS has also announced that public meetings will be held in the City to provide for community input in the decision-making process; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Postmaster General and the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission are urged to maintain full postal services in the City that provide all residents with uniform access to affordable, secure and dependable mail delivery, postal boxes, and related services; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the USPS is urged to provide meaningful opportunities for public input in the process of studying potential closure or conversion of post offices in the City, including the timely scheduling of public meetings accessible to all residents; and, be it
Further Resolved, That residents, business owners and all others interested in maintaining and promoting access to affordable, dependable and secure postal services in the City are urged to express their concerns to the USPS by contacting the Postmaster General, the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission and the Milwaukee Postmaster and to attend and participate in public meetings on these matters; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall provide copies of this resolution to members of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation representing the residents and interests of the City, the U.S. Postmaster General, the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission, and the Milwaukee Postmaster.
Drafter
LRB133369-2
Richard L. Withers
8/30/2011