SUPPORT THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE

1.  Write a Club letter to your city council to encourage the council to pass a resolution to go to Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer urging their support for S-316.

2.  Write a Club letter directly to Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer urging their support for S-316.

3.  Write an Individual letter to your city council to encourage the council to pass a resolution to go to Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer urging their support for S-316.

4.  Write an individual letter directly to Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer urging their support for S-316.

Postal Service Resolution Requested:

San Mateo, South City, and San Bruno City Councils

Postal Service Resolution Passed By:

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, Daly City, Millbrae, Santa Clara, San Francisco City Councils

Other CA City Councils: Petaluma, Berkeley, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Westminster, Ukiah, Los Angeles, Orange Cove, Thousand Oak

Other CA County Boards of Supervisors: Mendocino, Sonoma, Marin

Please notify John Beamont, National Association of Letter Carriers, of any actions taken, Cell - (415) 297-9527, [email protected]

 

If you have questions please contact:  Brigid O’Farrell, Coastside Democrats

[email protected], 650-867-0745

Postcards At The Edge, http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/postal-service-future/511d06e902a76065be0003c5

 

Ten Reasons that the U.S. Postal Service is not a Failure, http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/670241/ten_reasons_that_the_u.s._postal_service_is_not_a_failure

BACKGROUND:  US  Postal Service Protection Act

February 2014

 

            The U.S. Postal Service is a 200 year old institution, created by Congress, that employs over a half a million people living and working in our communities in California and across the country.  This is the second largest civilian workforce in the country—40% minority, 40% women, and 22% veterans, many with disabilities.

            There is no taxpayer support.   Yet, the post office must go through the US Congress to make basic business decisions.  By an act of Congress in 2006 it is required to pre-pay retiree health benefits for 75 years, requiring a payment of $5.5 billion annually for ten years.  No other public or private organization in the country has such a crippling financial requirement. 

            If it were not for this requirement, and the over funding of retirement programs by over 50 billion dollars, the postal service would make a small profit.  The postal service has downsized, consolidated, and innovated new products.  First class mail is down, but package delivery is increasing.  Fed Ex and UPS are customers for delivering packages to many locations with many of the most vulnerable customers, low income, rural, the sick and the elderly.   Some companies are now experimenting with Sunday delivery. The post office is increasingly important to our democracy as more and more people vote by mail.

            Senate Bill 316, the Postal Service Protection Act will solve several problems: stabilize the finances, protect mail processing, retail and last-mile delivery networks, and retain door to door delivery.  H.R. 630 in the US House of Representatives already has the support of Congresswoman Speier.

 

            This is federal legislation, but it affects everyone in our communities, including neighbors who work for the Postal Service.  Congress has caused the fiscal problem and Congress can solve the problem.  Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein have not shown support for S-316.  They need to hear from you.

DRAFT CLUB CITY COUNCIL LETTER

 

 

Dear City Council__________:

 

I write to you on behalf of the ______________ and urge you to support the resolution requesting that Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer support Senate Bill 316, the Postal Service Protection Act.

The postal service is a 200 year old institution that employs over a half a million people living and working in our communities. There is no taxpayer support for the second largest civilian workforce in the country—40% minority, 40% women, and 22% veterans, many with disabilities.  ________________ is home to post office buildings that serve as important community centers and employ local residents.

 

Despite the lack of taxpayer dollars, the post office must go through the US Congress to make basic business decisions.  By an act of Congress in 2006 it is required to pre-pay retiree health benefits for 75 years, requiring a payment of $5.5 billion annually for ten years.  No other public or private organization in the country has such a crippling financial requirement. 

 

If it were not for this requirement, and the over funding of retirement programs by over 50 billion dollars, the postal service would make a small profit.  The postal service has downsized, consolidated, and innovated new products.  First class mail has declined, but package delivery is increasing.  Fed Ex and UPS use the postal service for delivering packages to many locations with some of the most vulnerable customers.  Low income, rural, sick and elderly citizens are often dependent on their post offices and letter carriers.

 

We are asking _______________________to pass the resolution requesting that Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer support the Postal Service Protection Act which will solve these problems: stabilize the finances, protect mail processing, retail and last-mile delivery networks, and retain door to door delivery.  H.R. 630 in the US House of Representatives already has the support of Congresswoman Speier.

 

This is federal legislation that directly affects post offices, postal workers, and communities on the Coastside.  Congress has caused the fiscal problem and Congress can solve the problem. Our elected representatives should support this reform legislation.

 

Thank you for your consideration.

 

Sincerely,

CLUB LETTER

 

Senator Dianne Feinstein

One Post Street, Suite 2450

San Francisco, CA  94104

 

Dear Senator Feinstein:

 

I write to you on behalf of the ______________________ and urge you to support The Postal Protection Act of 2013—S. 316.  This past year a resolution was passed at the California Democratic Party Convention to encourage you, Senator Boxer and the California Democratic Congressional Delegation “to support efforts that end the mandate requiring USPS to pre-fund health care benefits and allow the USPS to recover overpayments made to federal pension plans."

 S-316 offers such sensible reforms while saving thousands of good jobs and critical services for local communities here in California and across the country. There is a great deal of grassroots support in California for the US Postal Service.

 

Congress created most of the problems faced by the US Postal Service and Congress can fix the problems. The San Mateo Democratic Central Committee strongly urges you to co-sponsor The Postal Protection Act of 2013, S-316.

Democratically Yours,

 

 

 

 

Senator Barbara Boxer

Suite 203

70 Washington Street

Oakland, CA  94607

 

INDIVIDUAL LETTER

 

Senator Dianne Feinstein

One Post Street, Suite 2450

San Francisco, CA  94104

 

Dear Senator Feinstein:

 

I am writing to urge you to support The Postal Protection Act of 2013—S. 316.  The Post Office is an important part of my community serving as a hub for everyone who lives in the area and especially for many low income, sick and elderly citizens. Businesses depend on the Post Office and the Post Office provides good solid jobs for many of my neighbors. 

This past year a resolution was passed at the California Democratic Party Convention to encourage you, Senator Boxer and the California Democratic Congressional Delegation “to support efforts that end the mandate requiring USPS to pre-fund health care benefits and allow the USPS to recover overpayments made to federal pension plans."

 S-316 offers such sensible reforms while saving thousands of good jobs and critical services for local communities here in California and across the country. There is a great deal of grassroots support in California for the US Postal Service.  This was one of only 18 resolutions to pass the convention.

 

 

Congress created most of the problems faced by the US Postal Service and Congress can fix the problems. I strongly urges you to co-sponsor The Postal Protection Act of 2013, S-316.

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

Senator Barbara Boxer

Suite 203

70 Washington Street

Oakland, CA  94607

 

 

  DRAFT POSTAL SERVICE PROTECTION ACT RESOLUTION

 WHEREAS, The Postal Service Protection Act of 2013 would sustain the United States Postal Service and avert unnecessary closures that hurt communities; and

   WHEREAS, The Postal Service Protection Act of 2013 would prohibit cuts to Saturday delivery, thus  protecting rural communities, small businesses, and senior citizens, as well as reducing the need for customers to seek other delivery options; and

   WHEREAS, The United States Postal Service's financial issues are due to unnecessary requirements and regulations imposed on it. The Postal Service Protection Act of 2013 would remove burdensome regulations, so the United States Postal Service can manage its budget more effectively and be more competitive with other delivery service providers; and

   WHEREAS, The Postal Service Protection Act of 2013 would give serious consideration to the employment status of the second largest civilian workforce in the country made up of over a half a million people living and working in all of our communities, with over 22% veterans, many with disabilities; and

   WHEREAS, The Postal Service Protection Act of 2013 would reinstate overnight delivery standards to speed mail delivery and prevent shutdowns of mail sorting centers, and protect  voting by mail throughout California which is now commonplace and will remain essential to our democracy; now

 

   THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,  That  the ________ City Council urges US Senator Barbara Boxer and US Senator Dianne Feinstein to pass the Postal Service Protection Act of 2013, Senate Bill 316, sponsored by Senator Bernard Sanders,  that would ensure the modernization and preservation of the United States Postal Service; and be it further

   RESOLVED,  That  the ________ City Council urges US Senator Barbara Boxer and US Senator Dianne Feinstein to oppose any postal reform legislation that does not end the mandate requiring the USPS to pre-fund future retiree health benefits, does not continue the mandate for 6-day delivery service, does not protect door to door delivery as it currently exists, and does not provide additional oversight and transparency to the United States Postal Service's plan to close, relocate, or sell 3,270 post offices; and be it further

   RESOLVED, That the ________ City Council transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to both US Senator Barbara Boxer and US Senator Dianne Feinstein, and to the United States Postmaster General.