(Below is the text of the letter sent to PMG Donohoe)

The Honorable Pat Donahoe
Postmaster General
United State Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20260-0010

Dear Postmaster Donahoe:

It is our understanding that the United States Postal Service (USPS) plans to conduct an Area Mail Processing (AMP) study to evaluate the feasibility of consolidating mail processing operations performed at the Rockford Processing and Distribution Facility with those performed at the Postal Service’s Carol Stream facility.

We write to express our concerns about the proposed consolidation, which could have a negative impact on the local workforce. Winnebago County has an unemployment rate of 12.7 percent, one of the highest in Illinois. In these challenging economic times, the Rockford area simply cannot afford to lose stable, good-paying jobs.

In addition, we are concerned that consolidation would compromise the quality of mail service in the region. Last year, following the completion an AMP study, the USPS decided to move originating operations from Palatine to the Carol Stream Processing and Distribution Center. Shifting additional processing operations to Carol Stream could overtax the facility, leading to delays and errors.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,