Residents request better mail service

By Denáe Brewer
Editor-in-chief

Unsatisfied with their postal delivery service, Highbridge residents once again are taking up their fight for equality.

In a February 20 meeting at Highbridge Community Life Center, eight residents developed a plan for obtaining postal improvements.

“We have to put pressure on these people [postal officials],”said committee member Nona Petione. “They won’t fix anything if they think we don’t care if it’s broken.”

Within the next few weeks, the Postal Committee will begin a campaign to flood the post office with complaints.

The committee plans on utilizing the toll-free customer service number the United States Postal Service provides. Citing misdelivered mail as their top complaint, committee members will call the number, log their complaint and take down the case number given.

“We want to prove to them [Postal Officials] that these are not isolated problems,” commented Rham Robinson, a community organizer working with the postal committee.

Committee members like Yolanda Romero are excited “The more they hear from us, the more seriously they will take us,” she said.

In a separate meeting held at council member Helen Foster’s office on February 24, postal officials from the 10451, 10452 and 10453 zip codes and John Raciti, a representative for Bronx Postmaster Tony Rosario, addressed concerns posed by community residents.

On the issue of misdelivered mail, John Sofi, manager of the Morris Heights post office in the 10453 zip code, stressed the importance of proper labeling—not only on the incoming mail but on the mailboxes themselves.

“We’re often faced with a situation where there are several people with a different last name living in the same household,” Mr. Sofi commented. “In most cases their name is not on the mailbox so the carrier is unsure of delivery.” In light of this problem, Mr. Sofi suggested the addition of the names inside the mailboxes. “This will help maintain privacy as well as help the carrier. In the long run, this will speed up the delivery process, ensuring greater customer satisfaction.”

John Vencenzi, manager of the Highbridge Post Office, is mindful of the problems in the community regarding mail service and is pleased with the decision to make a phone call. “If you receive mail that is not yours,” Vencenzi urged, “call the post office.”

Mr. Vencenzi stressed that complaints should go directly to the local post office instead of the toll-free number. “Yes, it’s easier getting through to them on the phone, but eventually the complaints come to our office anyway,” he said. “Just think of it as eliminating the middleman.”

The postal campaign is a journey that began in Highbridge three years ago. Back then, along with other issues, residents complained about late delivery—often mail would arrive at 8 p.m. Postal officials recognized that Highbridge was underserved and added seven new routes to the area.

Residents contend that the service did improve slightly, but still falls far below satisfaction. “We should be getting the same type of service they do in Manhattan,” Ms. Romero said, “and we will fight to get it.”

For postal praise, problems or to report misdelivered mail, call the toll--free number at (800) 275-8777 or the Highbridge Post Office at (718) 588-7654.