Huffman holds meeting to discuss Eureka mail center closure

August 23, 2014

Congressman Jared Huffman was joined by several local officials Friday at a packed town hall meeting at Eureka's Wharfinger Building to discuss what effect the closure of the city's mail processing center may have on vote-by-mail ballots, deliveries and jobs.

"It's important to discuss what's happening," said Huffman, who represents the 2nd District. "The Postal Service was invited to be here well in advance. Unfortunately, I learned they declined, so I will do my best to outline their plan. I'm on the record opposing this closure and consolidation of our Postal Service."

The United States Postal Service has said its decision to close mail sorting centers is due to a decline in mail services because of the Internet and because it has to pre-fund employee pensions 75 years out, according to Huffman. He added the closures are supposed to save money.

"There's a legitimate question as to how much will be saved," Huffman said. "There have been arguments that this is foolish to continue closures, and it will eliminate 200 jobs in my district. The proposed closure in Eureka is estimated to cost 21 jobs. The postal service, in my opinion, can't solve this by simply cutting services. It doesn't take a mathematician to know a letter going from Eureka to Medford and back to Eureka is going to take longer."

First District Humboldt County Supervisor Rex Bohn said the board is sending another letter to the postal service protesting the move.

"The letter says the impact and loss of employees goes beyond any respectable loss," Bohn said. "They're not just post office employees, they're our neighbors and friends. Together, we make a great voice."

Eureka Mayor Frank Jager said the city stands behind keeping the center open.

"I don't think they're looking at the isolation and getting the mail in and out," Jager said. "What we do next is, I'd like to get together with local elected officials and get together with those making the decisions. If they won't come to us, then we'll go to them. They need to hear about this, and I think it needs to be done eyeball to eyeball."

Manila resident Jennifer Savage said there's a very serious side to possible delays in deliveries.

"I have a son with type 1 diabetes, and he needs certain things that we can't get in town, so we have to use the postal service," Savage said. "The way health insurance works, you can only order supplies so often and you're kind of forced into this position of being almost out while you're waiting, and you're worried if it will come in time. This is actually a critical service for us, and if we lose it, it literally could be life or death for my family."

Arcata Mayor Mark Wheetley said this closure isn't just a Eureka issue but a "955 issue," adding little things will also be impacted.

"I think it's sometimes the little things we don't think about," Wheetley said. "I recently applied for a passport and there's timeliness needed with that. Another thing I just received is a toll bill for the San Francisco gate. Once it goes to Medford and back here, you're already halfway to delinquency."

Fred Nelson, a former Eureka postmaster who retired in 1985, said the whole idea of the closure is foolish, not cost effective and not doing anything for mail delivery services. He added the alternate routes to get mail to and from Medford if the case of a disaster or road closure could add more than 300 miles.

"The alternate routes are all pretty bad, and we're not going to save money transportation-wise," Nelson said. "I started with the Postal Service in 1944, and I've been out of the game for a while and there have been some changes, but the length of routes are basically still the same. It still takes time to get to and from Eureka."

Humboldt County Registrar of Voters Carolyn Crnich said any time delay is critical when it comes to vote-by-mail ballots.

"In my opinion, voting is the cornerstone of democracy, and this county and my office have spent a lot of money and time encouraging people to vote by mail," Crnich said. "In rural areas where there are too few voters to establish a polling place, they have to vote by mail and the turnout is greater. When it comes to vote-by-mail ballots, the postmark doesn't count, it has to be in my hands. A majority of voters could be disenfranchised if their ballots aren't counted, and if I'm ever sued by disenfranchised voters because their ballots weren't counted, it won't stop there. I'll see to it (the Postal Service) is held accountable for the delay in delivery."

Huffman said the community has to raise its voice and be heard.

"My concerns fall into three categories: I care about the jobs we'll be losing, I care about the service we'll be losing and I care about the broader demise of the Postal Service," Huffman said. "We've got to push back and demand change. I don't think anyone should feel this is inevitable and can't change."


Source: By Melissa Simon