By Philip Newman
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) has appealed to Congress to establish a new postal zip code serving Glendale exclusively in a long-sought change that proponents say is needed to avoid slow postal service and confusion with neighboring Ridgewood.
“Glendale currently shares a zip code with the adjacent neighborhood of Ridgewood, NY,” Meng wrote. “Glendale has faced changes resulting from the shared zip code (11385).” Since the 1990s residents of Glendale have sought to obtain a zip code for their community. As a member of Congress, Meng represents the area and supports these efforts.
Meng said mail for Glendale often ends up in Ridgewood.
Meng told U.S. Reps. Jason Chaffetz , chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Elijah Cummings, ranking member on the committee, the requested change was not new with several such zip codes having been changed in 2006.
“The lack of a unique zip code for Glendale also negatively impacts the ability of residents to access services,” Meng wrote. “Service providers, such as providers of utilities and repairs have trouble finding Glendale homes because Glendale is often not recognized as a neighborhood in the zip code.”
Meng said Glendale does not show up on GPS devices and this causes confusion about where addresses are located.
She introduced legislation to make the change in 2014 and again in 2015 and it is pending before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committees, which has jurisdiction over the Postal Service.
