District manager, U.S. Postal Service
I’d like to apologize for the service inconvenience the Marion County Record, Hillsboro Star-Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin have experienced. We also appreciate Eric Meyer bringing it to our attention and we have already taken steps to help expedite the flow of newspapers through our mail processing plant, and will closely monitor service over the coming weeks to ensure timely delivery.
USPS strives to deliver the best possible service for all customers, including publishers and their publication’s subscribers. If individuals are having a particular service issue, they should contact the Postal Service by calling 1-800-ASK-USPS or by visiting our website at usps.com.
In his editorial, Mr. Meyer asserts USPS operations should be subsidized by taxpayers, something that hasn’t happened since 1982. USPS believes what is really needed is comprehensive legislative reform that will provide the Postal Service with the flexibility it needs in its business model to respond to today’s rapidly changing marketplace.
The Postal Service is encouraged by the recent strong bipartisan vote by the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee which advances the Postal Reform Act of 2014 to the Senate floor. The bill provides the framework to return the organization to financial stability, empowering USPS to develop innovative products and services for the American public and to grow the business.
Unfortunately, right now USPS is operating in the 21st Century with an outdated business model. Today, when people need to pay a bill or get in touch with a loved one, they reach for their mobile device or laptop.
The Postal Service has and continues to be very aggressive in pursuing every responsible action it can take under the law to increase revenue and reduce costs. Since 2006, the USPS has achieved annual cost reductions of $16 billion while providing record levels of service.
Our operational achievements are impressive and argue well for a strong future, but they cannot overcome the impacts of a broken business model. The Postal Service must gain comprehensive legislation that closes an estimated $20 billion budget gap by the year 2017 to avoid becoming a permanent burden to the American taxpayer.