Inwood representative leads pro-post office rally

Updated Aug. 24 at 7:30 a.m.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat who represents Elmont, Inwood, north and south Valley Stream and Southeast Queens, along with fellow party members denounced the Trump Administration’s attempts to undermine the work of the United States Postal Service with a rally outside the Jamaica Post Office on Aug. 18.

Long Island Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) and Congresswoman  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx), along with State Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Holliswood) and Councilman Rory Lancman joined Meeks to announce Congressional action being taken by the House of Representatives this week in response to the new operational changes under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to “degrade service by the USPS and undermine absentee voting,” the officials said.

“Though it is clear that Trump together with the postmaster general are sabotaging post offices to undermine American's right to vote, the damage isn’t limited to our elections,” Meeks (D-St. Albans) said at the rally. “These efforts hurt anyone who relies on the USPS for their prescription deliveries, social security benefits, paychecks, or anything urgent. This attack on our constitutionally enshrined Postal Service hurts Republicans, Democrats, independents and non-voters alike, and Democrats will hold this administration accountable.” 

The House is expected to be in session this week to vote on Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney’s bill Delivering for America Act, which would prohibit the postal service from implementing changes to its operations that have been in place since the beginning of 2020. The postmaster general and Chairman of the USPS Board of Governors Robert Duncan are set to testify before the committee on Aug. 24.

“Undermining and starving the USPS from much-needed funding will have collateral damage that will impact more than mail-in ballots,” Suozzi said. “These cuts and slowdowns will have dire impacts on seniors and veterans who have always been able to depend on the postal service for the timely delivery of life-saving prescription medications, as well as consumers and small businesses who have had to adapt in many ways to the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.”

The House of Representatives approved legislation on Aug. 22 to block cost-cutting and operational changes at the USPS that Dems, civil rights advocates and a portion of Republicans are afraid that could endanger mail-in ballots for the coming elections. Though 26 GOP numbers voted for the measure it is thought that it will not be passed by the Republican-controlled Senate as written.     

Postal service officials said they were appreciative of the House legislation but troubled by some stipulations. “We are concerned that some of the requirements of the bill, while well meaning, will constrain the ability of the postal service to make operational changes that will improve efficiency, reduce costs, and ultimately improve service to the American people,” the USPS said in a statement. “We reiterate that the postal service is fully capable and committed to delivering the nation’s election mail securely and on time, and will do everything necessary to meet this sacred duty.”