Jul 31, 2009 7:31 pm US/Pacific
Bay Area Post Offices Considered For Closure
(CBS 5 / AP)
The Government Accountability Office on Tuesday added the Postal Service to its list of high-risk federal agencies in need of change.
The post office has been struggling with a sharp decline in mail volume as people and businesses switch to e-mail both for personal contact and bill paying. The agency is facing a nearly $7 billion potential loss this fiscal year despite a 2-cent increase in the price of stamps in May, and cuts in staff.
"There are serious and significant structural financial challenges currently facing the Postal Service," the GAO said.
"New technology is profoundly affecting services in both the private and public sectors, including traditional mail delivery. Compounded by the current recession, the volume of mail being sent is dropping substantially," Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general, said in a statement.
The report called on the Postal Service to work with Congress and other organizations to develop and implement a restructuring plan.
Among the options being considered is the closure of post offices throughout the nation. The following is a list of Bay Area post office stations or branches identified as candidates for closure as part of a consolidation initiative:
American Canyon BR Site, Vallejo
Bradford, Hayward
Casa Correo, Concord
Colonnade, San Jose
Dimond, Oakland
Kaiser Center, Oakland
Landscape, Berkeley
Mills College, Oakland
Mira Vista Station, Richmond
Mission San Jose, Fremont
Mount Eden, Hayward
Niles, Fremont
Oakland Station B, Oakland
Oakland Station E, Oakland
Oakridge Mall, San Jose
Park Sation, Berkeley
Point Richmond Station, Richmond
Richmond Station A, Richmond
San Pablo Branch, Richmond
South Berkeley, Berkeley
Todos Santos, Concord
Bernal, SF
Civic Center Box, SF
Federal, SF
McLaren, SF
San Mateo 25th Ave, San Mateo
In addition, Postmaster General John Potter has asked Congress for permission to reduce mail deliveries from six days-a-week to five.
Last year, mail volume fell by 9.5 billion pieces to a total of 203 billion pieces. It is expected to fall by 28 billion pieces this year to a total of 175 billion pieces.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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