{"id":35540,"date":"2024-06-03T09:47:38","date_gmt":"2024-06-03T14:47:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/?p=35540"},"modified":"2024-06-03T09:47:38","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T14:47:38","slug":"congressman-gottheimer-demands-transparency-and-action-from-usps-leadership-regarding-lafayette-post-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/2024\/06\/03\/congressman-gottheimer-demands-transparency-and-action-from-usps-leadership-regarding-lafayette-post-office\/","title":{"rendered":"Congressman Gottheimer Demands Transparency and Action from USPS Leadership Regarding Lafayette Post Office"},"content":{"rendered":"

Implores USPS to reestablish a post office in Lafayette after five years of delays. Thanks hardworking postal service carriers and handlers<\/h3>\n
May 29, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n
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Above: Gottheimer calling on USPS to reestablish its post office in Lafayette.<\/em><\/p>\n

LAFAYETTE, NJ\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014 Yesterday, May 28, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) called on United States Postal Service leadership to uphold its pledge to reestablish a post office in Lafayette, New Jersey, five years after they suspended operations. Since USPS\u2019s 2019 decision to close the post office, Congressman Gottheimer and his team have corresponded with the Postal Service, advocating for a full restoration of service. USPS has repeatedly miscommunicated and delayed plans for the post office, hurting the people of Lafayette who rely on the postal service to pay their bills, access their medication, and connect with friends and loved ones.<\/p>\n

Video of Gottheimer\u2019s announcement can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAfter years of persistent delays, miscommunications, and blatant non-response from leadership at the United States Postal Service, Lafayette, New Jersey is still without a post office. It\u2019s disgraceful that the United States Postal Service has completely blown off this community, and we\u2019re here to state loud and clear that we\u2019ve had enough,\u201d\u00a0said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5).\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cLet me be clear: I\u2019m incredibly proud of the postal workers who handle and deliver our mail, rain or shine. They work incredibly hard and do yeoman\u2019s work. It\u2019s clear that the rot at USPS is at the top with leaders who are either incapable or unwilling to serve the public.\u201d<\/p>\n

MOVED UP:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>USPS\u2019s lack of leadership for Lafayette is indicative of broader problems facing the postal service in New Jersey. New data from the Office of the Inspector General shows that service in New Jersey has gotten even worse over the past year. More than ten percent of mail is late. Change of address fraud, where criminals can go to a local branch or to USPS\u2019s website and change individuals\u2019 addresses without ever being asked for ID, jumped by 167 percent between 2020 and 2021. Branches like Teaneck face continued reports of theft \u2014 with little intervention from USPS\u2019s national leaders. During the event, Gottheimer called for transparency, responsiveness, and effective leadership from USPS to address these significant issues.<\/p>\n

Timeline of Postal Issues in Lafayette\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n