Letter to Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General USPS - SENATORS SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, CONGRESSMAN TONKO PUSH POSTMASTER GENERAL DEJOY TO KEEP ACADEMY STATION POST OFFICE DOORS OPEN

Letter

Dear Postmaster DeJoy,

We write to you with urgent concern regarding Academy Station Post Office's potential permanent closure, currently located at 363 Ontario Street, in Albany, New York. We have recently learned that the Postal Service's lease for Academy Station Post Office ends in February 2022 with no commitment to service continuity. We ask for the Postal Service to continue operating Academy Station on an interim basis until a permanent location is chosen and ensure a long-term lease is signed so Academy Station remains in the community. We also ask for the Postal Service to expand its public notification system to ensure community awareness of your plans.

Formerly located at 563 New Scotland Ave, Academy Station Post Office was relocated to Ontario Street following the demolition and planned redevelopment of the New Scotland building. USPS did not sign to renew the lease at 563 New Scotland and relocated to 363 Ontario as a temporary facility. The Postal Service has not committed to finding a long-term facility nor has it provided public updates on the search for a permanent location for Academy Station. This lease's expiration is quickly approaching.

Over the past twelve years, Albany residents have already lost three post offices and they cannot lose another without dire damage to the community. Closing Academy Station would leave one-third of city residents without a post office in their neighborhood. A closure, or gap in services, would adversely affect Albany residents, especially our veterans, seniors, small-businesses, and low-income neighbors who heavily rely on USPS. The 363 Ontario Street is accessible by major bus lines, offers disabled parking, and is a short distance from major commercial corridors. If 363 Ontario Street were to close, there would be only two remaining neighborhood-based permanent post offices in the city, with only one open site on Saturdays, leaving tremendous gaps in service. In order to preserve the livelihoods of Albany residents, we again urge USPS to continue operating the Academy Station office on an interim basis until a new permanent office is fully established and a lease is signed.

Our Albany residents need and deserve access to equitable and convenient postal services and Academy Station is essential to filling that need. Thank you for your attention to this matter and we look forward to your prompt response.

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