I was disappointed to read your March 2 editorial “Save the College Point Mail Center,” as you incorrectly characterized my role in fighting the closure of the U.S. Postal Service’s College Point mail facility.
You wrote “the only local official to react to the decision is state Sen. Toby Stavisky” and “we are disappointed Stavisky is the only elected official questioning this decision.”
These statements are far from the truth. Not only did I send your paper a statement reacting to the closure, but I have been working in the community and Congress to stop the closure since 2011.
On Dec. 9th, I and Stavisky led a rally at the facility to protest its planned closure. Your paper featured an article, “Pols rally against College Point USPS closure,” that included a quote and picture of me from the rally. Furthermore, I wrote a letter and public comment to the manager of the Triboro Postal District Dec. 20, in which I reiterated my opposition to the closure. Your paper received a copy of this letter.
This is not to mention my efforts your paper may not have covered, like my meeting with the manager in my Jackson Heights office Dec. 12th or co-sponsorship of H.R. 1351, which would help USPS meet its financial obligations. My staff has also had dozens of discussions with USPS to explore this issue.
As I said in my Feb. 23 statement on the decision to close the facility, which was sent to your paper, “At a time when New Yorkers, like all Americans, are struggling during these difficult times, relocating or possibly laying off the workers at this facility could be devastating to the local Queens economy. Closing this facility and cutting services will not get USPS out of the red, but it will hurt Queens families and businesses.”
Joe Crowley
U.S. Representative
(D-Jackson Heights)
