looks likely unless the USPS can be stopped...
Article from the Commercial Appeal on 10/15/2009:
"WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Postal Service is reviewing the future operation of four postal facilities in Memphis, including a Downtown unit at Peabody Place.
The Postal Regulatory Commission has released a list of facilities across the country that are being considered for closure as mail volume declines. Of the 16 in Tennessee, four are in Memphis.
That's up from the two previously announced statewide and the one identified in Memphis just a few weeks ago.
The list contains the address of the Customs House post office on North Front Street, but that unit has already closed, said Beth Barnett, a Nashville-based spokesman for the postal service.
The others in Memphis are the Colonial Financial Unit at 4695 Southern; the Lee Financial Unit at 826 Mississippi; and the White Station facility at 5821 Park. Only the Mississippi Boulevard office was listed in August.
No decisions on the targeted units have been made. There are 32,000 retail postal facilities nationwide.
"While no final decision has been made yet, Congressman (Steve) Cohen is committed to making sure that as this process moves forward it is fair, transparent, and will allow all those in our community the chance to have their voice heard," said his spokesman, Steven Broderick."
Editorial from the Commercial Appeal on 10/16/2009:
"It's not easy to challenge the U.S. Postal Service's plan to close four Memphis postal facilities next to a page that encourages readers to send comments by E-mail, but here goes.
As ubiquitous as electronic communication has become, there are still people in America who pay bills, mail presents, send thank you notes, sue each other, buy merchandise, give money to TV hucksters and send letters to the editor via the mail.
Many of these people live and/or work in neighborhoods in which walking to a postal facility is still an option, and it should be kept that way, for purposes of convenience and energy efficiency.
Most important, one of the suggested closings -- at Peabody Place -- would leave the heart of Downtown Memphis without a postal facility. The main branch on Third Street is on the very southern fringe of Downtown -- eight-tenths of a mile from the Peabody Place location.
Perhaps Peabody Place is not the best place for a Downtown P.O., but there should be a bona fide location in the heart of this and every other major city in America.
The facilities are unlikely to close before January, said Postmaster General John E. Potter, United States Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 10804, Washington, DC 20260-0004. We'd give you his E-mail address, but it's private."
