By Phil Corso
State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) joined local leaders Friday, including Assemblyman Ed Braunstein (D-Bayside), Community Board 11 Chairman Jerry Iannece, and East Bayside Homeowners Association President Frank Skala, to protest a possible relocation of the Bayside post office at 212-35 42nd Ave.
The group demanded that they be involved in the discussions over whether or not the post office would move to a nearby annex after Avella said there were signs that the postal officials were making preparations for the shift.
In a statement sent earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside) said the Postal Service had plans to abandon the post office’s current location and move all operations to the annex building by Lawrence Cemetery, at 41-29 216th St. The Postal Service has been mostly silent on the issue, only releasing one statement in which it called the uproar a misunderstanding.
“We are continuously observing postal facilities. It’s a healthy review of our resources that will best incorporate them into long-term plans for effective and efficient retail service,” the statement said. “It is prudent for us to look for ways to improve efficiency by making better use of space, staffing and operating processes. A lot of things are on the chalkboard.”
But the rumors continued after Avella confirmed there were reports of engineers meeting in the nearby annex to map out the area.
“The post office at this location has been a popular fixture in the Bayside neighborhood and has provided easy and convenient postal services to Bayside residents for years,” Avella said. “Any plans to move the post office to a location that will not be able to provide the same expediency that residents have come to rely on, such as easy access, a centralized location, and parking availability, is shortsighted.”
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
