Photo by Denae Brewer/Horizon
Responding to residents’ complaints about local service, three weeks ago the Postal Service began stationing this mobile unit at the corner of 165th Street and Ogden Avenue on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

Postal Service delivers on its promise

By Denae Brewer
Editor in Chief

Weeks after Bronx officials met with concerned citizens displeased with the state of their mail service, a United States Mobile Postal Unit grace the streets of Highbridge.

Stationed on Ogden Avenue and 167th Street, the mobile unit is scheduled to be in the area only on Wednesdays from 9am to 12 pm.

“It was a tough fight,’ said Highbridgian Cynthia Robinson. “But at least there’s a victory.”

With victory comes a greater chance of defeat.

John Raciti, manager of customer service operations for the Bronx reports that in the unit’s first week in Highbridge there were no customers. “It was a fiasco,” Mr. Raciti said, “We made no money. We have to show a profit.”

One in a fleet of four in the Bronx, the mobile unit, spends most of its time outside of the Bronx supreme courthouse on 161st Street, Much like a regular post office, costumers can buy stamps, send out mail and packages—up to four pounds — as well as obtain certified mail and delivery confirmation receipts.

“This is definitely great for our community,” said Michael McIntosh a Highbridge resident. “Finally, the people in the post office saw there was a problem and decided to do something about it.”

Most in Highbridge feel that there should be a post office substation in the area. The nearest one, the Highbridge Station, is located on Inwood Avenue and 170th Street—which is more than a 10-block walk up and down hill. For senior citizens or those carrying packages, the trek seems even more grueling. “This truck is more convenient,” said Clara Austin a Highbridge resident for the past 24 years. “I’ve always hated the fact that I have to go so far out of my way to send a package, when years ago there used to be a post office [substation] in the neighborhood.”

Closed for almost 20 years, longtime residents vividly remember the substation located on 164th Street between Summit and Ogden avenues. “Everyone used it,” said Ms. Austin.

Everyone may have used it but urban decay, abandonment and a steep population decline in the 1980’s forced postal officials to close the substation. “Now that more people live in the community, they [postal officials] need to do more.”

Do more, they did.

Since April 2000, residents have asked postal officials to reassess Highbridge’s mail service. Citing often misdelivered, late or no mail service at all, the residents’ requests were heard. In January 2001, a Counts and Inspections survey was performed, leading to route realignments and the addition of several mail carriers. There were attempts to open a substation in an existing business. However, logistics and money prevented that from happening.

“With the financial crisis the USPS is in, the likelihood of a new contract station being built is slim at best,” repeatedly warns John Vincenzi Manager of the Highbridge Station.

Mr. Raciti confirms that. “Right now, building a Post office is out of the question” He added that the Postal Service offered the mobile unit as a compromise. “We’ve heard the complaints and know that getting to the local post office is somewhat of a hardship. The Mobile unit is our way to accommodate the neighborhood.”

Accommodations can go so far, Mr. Raciti urges residents to take advantage of the service before it’s too late. “As with any endeavor we want to give this a chance, but if we continue to loose money we will have to discontinue.”