“On Hold” - Murkowski Gets Answer on Douglas Post Office Status
Senator Continues to Seek Certainty for Juneau Community
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Lisa Murkowski has received a response from the United States Postal Service with regards to the status of the Douglas Post Office, which – along with four other postal branches in the state – was threatened with possible closure as the USPS attempted to address its multi-billion dollar shortfall.
Earlier this year, the USPS made the decision to cut hours at thousands of rural post offices across the country – including dozens in Alaska – but a small number of at-risk locations did not receive any changes, leaving many wondering about their fate. Senator Murkowski wrote to Post Office headquarters in Washington, DC to get answers for the communities to get them out of “limbo.” The USPS responded in a letter this week that reads:
“The May 9 announcement focused on the needs of rural America. Stations and branches that were under consideration for potential consolidation are not part of that proposal. Stations and branches are subsidiary offices of nearby Post Offices; they are not independent Post Offices. Any proposals to close these facilities have been placed on hold; stations and branches that were under review will not close at this time. Going forward, the Postal Service will evaluate how best to incorporate them into long-term plans for effective and efficient retail service.”
Senator Murkowski will continue to monitor the activities of the United States Postal Service and continue to advocate for the best possible service for Alaskans in every community.
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