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March 8, 2010

Locals react to possible elimination of Saturday mail delivery

Mary Meaux The Port Arthur News

PORT ARTHUR — Saturday mail delivery may soon be part of history along with the Pony Express and the 2-cent stamp.

The U.S. Postal Service, in a bid to cut costs, is proposing the elimination of Saturday delivery.

The reason, according to Postmaster General John Potter, is a decline in the volume of First-class Mail which is related to the nations financial crisis and changes in consumer behavior.

Like many Southeast Texans, Elizabeth Escareno is part of today’s fast paced generation that utilizes 3G networks and high speed Internet. She uses e-mail and instant messages to send and receive information but the idea of dropping down to 5-day per week postal delivery doesn’t sit well with her.

“I don’t want mail delivery to stop on Saturdays,” Escareno said. “I’m always receiving packages.”

Escareno shops Online and eagerly awaits the mail, even on Saturdays, she said. And she hasn’t switched over to electronic billing either.

Carolyn Thibodeaux is also caught between the world of technology and the old-fashioned mail system. While browsing Online she might come across something interesting to read but not have time to scan the whole article, she said, she sends the information to herself via e-mail to read later at home.

Thibodeaux has noticed a decline in the number of mail drop boxes in the area. The box that once stood in front of the Port Arthur Public Library was done away with some time ago, she said. The under-utilized box was a convenient way to send mail, she added.

Joshua Midgette said dropping Saturday delivery won’t really affect him since he doesn’t rely on the Postal Service for delivery of packages.

Rick Whitaker traced the Postal Services’ economic woes to the beginning of the recession and wondered out loud why the government can’t provide some assistance just as they did to bail out the Bank of America.

U.S. Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) feels Saturday service is imperative to the community. Saturday, he said, may not be the best day of the week to make the change.

“As with all federal agencies, there is plenty of room for tightening their belts without compromising service and quality,” he said. “Congress should take a serious look at the cost benefits of moving to a 5 day week, without eliminating Saturday service.”

Cutting Saturday mail delivery is one of several options the Postmaster General will present to Congress in the near future. Customers would not see a change for at least six months after the approval of the issue, Dion Montague, corporate communications for the U.S. Postal Service, said.

mmeaux@panews.com

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