Staff Writer
About 50 people, including post office employees and retirees, city residents and city leader representatives, were on hand at a public meeting at Long Beach City College on Friday, Dec. 15 to voice their opposition to the potential closure of the Long Beach Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC), a move that could result in the loss of 686 positions. The purpose of the meeting was to not only collect the public’s input for consideration prior to any final decision making, but to also answer questions people may have had about the Area Mail Processing (AMP) feasibility study that suggested there was a need to consolidate and move the Long Beach P&DC (the Steve Horn Post Office, 2300 Redondo Ave.) to the Los Angeles P&DC.
The proposed closure and changes are in response to the increased competition in the communications marketplace, with electronic bill payment and email and instant messaging providing alternatives to the use of stamped first-class mail. As a result, the volume of collection mail has increasingly declined. According to a handout on the study’s findings, the shift to alternate means of communications has resulted in the loss of nearly 50 percent of single-piece, first-class volume since 2000.
Santa Ana United States Postal Service (USPS) district manager Gerry Ahern said that the initial results of the study revealed that electronic conversion and the economic downtown were to blame for a 20 percent decline in processed mail. The study went on to state that moving the Long Beach P&DC 21.4 miles away to the Los Angeles P&DC would save the USPS approximately $16,117,522.
“Our operational goal is to stay ahead of the cost curve,” Ahern said. “By 2013, our network may consist of fewer than 200 facilities nationwide, which would put us ahead of the cost curve for the remaining decade.”
Ahern noted that if the decision was made to reduce the size of the network in order to address the excess capacity problem, the USPS would be unable to consistently achieve service days.
“That’s why we intend to rebuild the network based on a two- to three-day service standard for local delivery for first-class,” Ahern said. “The operational benefits will be tremendous even though the changes will go relatively unnoticed by the average customer.”
Ahern projected that network realignment would mean 35,000 fewer mail processing positions, with cutbacks affecting annual mail processing employees, maintenance and transportation.
Other proposed consolidation changes under the AMP study would include moving retail and other services available at the Long Beach facility to another local office, changing local collection box pick-up times, creating a local postmark for stamped first-class mail, and supporting a two- to three-day service standard for first-class mail.
Amy Johnson, who attended as a representative on behalf of 5th District Councilmember Gerrie Schipske, did not want to see the Long Beach P&DC close. She said the facility provides support for Long Beach businesses and residents, and that the closure would have a major impact on the local community.
Signal Hill Mayor Larry Forester said the city is concerned with the negative impact the possible loss of 686 jobs will have on the local community, which currently has an unemployment rate of 13 percent. Signal Hill’s zip code would not change or be affected by the proposed changes.
“The city of Signal Hill opposes the closing of the Steve Horn Post Office, and will work with the USPS to maintain a retail post office presence in the city,” Forester said.
Signal Hill Deputy City Manager Charlie Honeycutt also offered to work with the post office in their decision-making process.
Long Beach resident and retired postal employee Martin Etchepare said the Long Beach P&DC is a vital part of the local area, and that its elimination would result in major issues, including the loss of a retail outlet and P.O. Box access.
AMP is defined as the consolidation of selected processing functions, typically from one facility into one or more centralized facilities, to eliminate excess capacity and make better use of space, staffing, equipment, and transportation. AMP feasibility studies are used to identify opportunities to improve efficiency and service.
Ahern encouraged the community to send comments on the plan by Saturday, Dec. 31 to:
Manager, Consumer and Industry Contact
Santa Ana District
3101 W. Sunflower
Santa Ana, CA 92799-9323
To view the presentation given at the meeting, visit about.usps.com/streamlining-operations/public-meeting-presentation-long-beach-12-16-11.pdf.
