Editor:
Moving the main post office to Seventh Street and Colorado Avenue means patrons must cross the Exposition Light Rail Line to reach the facility ("Community speaks up for post office," July 21). This will not only cause traffic congestion, but is a costly accident just waiting to happen between the light rail trains and pedestrians, bikers and cars, as well as the handicapped.
The proposed location is inconvenient to everyone. The current historic post office is central to Downtown businesses, visitors and many residents who can walk to the facility. There are always lines waiting for window service, and long lines during holiday periods. Moving to Seventh and Colorado means many more patrons will have to drive, assuming they have cars, and this at a time when the Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) goal is to reduce vehicle traffic. So the move is inconsistent with the LUCE.
Closing the main post office and selling the property is, at best, a cosmetic gesture to save money. It hardly makes a dent in the post office losses while greatly impacting the service and usefulness to the community. This is a very poor business plan. The sale of all post offices should be put on hold until a viable long-range operating plan is approved.
I ship packages through the post office rather than local private carriers, not because it is cheaper, but because it is the most convenient location. But if I have to drive to the post office, I'm going to use cheaper shippers, and I'm sure I'm not alone. The move could easily end up costing the post office money.
There is very limited available parking around the proposed location. And the proposed facility has very limited capacity to serve the public, with a very small counter and an electrically operated entry door.
Has leasing of the unused south room of the main post office been considered as a way to partly offset expenses?
Closing the main post office will neither benefit the community nor the U.S. Postal Service. It is a bad idea that should be stopped.
Jim Gerstley
Santa Monica
