July 3, 2009

AREA CRIES FOUL OVER POST OFFICE CLOSINGS

By James Tinley, Register Staff

News that the U.S. Postal Service is studying five New Haven area post office branches for possible closure and consolidation was met Thursday with opposition from community leaders and residents.

John Dirzius, president of the Greater Connecticut Area American Postal Workers Union, said he understands the need to save money, but doesn't think closing 13 branches statewide makes good business sense, when other cost-saving measures could be implemented.

In East Haven, where the community — joined by U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, — had just battled the postal service a year ago to keep it from following through with a threatened closing of the Trolley Square branch, officials and residents geared up for another battle.

The Trolley Square branch is the only post office in East Haven and is within walking distance of East Farm Village, a housing complex for senior citizens and low- and moderate-income families that has more than 300 residents.

Its proposed replacement last year was the carrier service center on Frontage Road in the Annex section of New Haven, which is across Interstate 95 and two frontage roads, and like many possible closures, would force people off the street and into cars.

"They're not looking at it from the standpoint of the people who live here," Mayor April Capone Almon said. "They're looking at it on paper, and that's not helping the people of East Haven." She promised, however, "We'll do what we can to work with them and maybe find some more cost-effective ways of doing things."

A year ago, after lobbying that included an on-site rally and press conference, and petitions signed by more than 200 East Farm Village residents, then-Postal Service Connecticut District Manager Ed Phelan told local officials that the postal service has "no intention to leave Trolley Square."

Postal service spokeswoman Maureen P. Marion said Thursday that in the year since then, "The Postal Service has continued to experience a significant and very serious financial issue. As a result, we absolutely have to look at the way we operate."

But that doesn't mean Trolley Square — or any of the area post offices on the list — are absolutely closing, Marion said.

"In making the first selections that we have, some of the information includes the nuts and bolts of operations," she said. But "when you do the spin of the compass, one thing looks like one thing, but is something else."

West Haven Mayor John M. Picard said he learned about the potential closing of the post office at 14 Ocean Ave., when he read it in the newspaper Thursday morning. He said the closing of the office will be an inconvenience to people in that area.

State Rep. Patricia Dillon, D-New Haven, decried the possible closure of the Westville post office on Fountain Street because it is a historic structure built during the Great Depression, and any closure would force people to drive instead of walk to the post office.

The consolidation study, which also includes the Mount Carmel Carrier Annex in Hamden, should be completed in October, when the new fiscal year begins for the Postal Service.

"It would be ironic if things that were built during the Depression were destroyed by a recession," Dillon said. New Haven Alderwoman Jacqueline James-Evan, D-3, said losing the Kilby Station post office on Washington Avenue would be a major blow to her community. Jerry Cannon who has lived in the Hill neighborhood all his life, said the Kilby station is especially important to residents who don't have access to cars.

The consolidation study, which also includes the Mount Carmel Carrier Annex in Hamden, should be completed in October, when the new fiscal year begins for the Postal Service.

Delauro said she looks forward to reviewing any proposal.

"E-mail and online statements, as well as the economic recession, have compounded the financial challenges facing the U.S. Postal Service, however, the direction they are moving in, including potential branch closures and consolidations, raises concerns, especially as there seem to be other alternatives available," DeLauro said in an e-mail message.

Register Reporters Mark Zaretsky and Abbe Smith contributed to this story. James Tinley can be reached at jtinley@nhregister