November 2, 2009

Contact: Kristen Bossi

(202) 225-4476

WATERBURY, CT - Today, Congressman Chris Murphy (CT-5) held a press conference to release a letter signed by over 250 Waterbury business owners, residents, Mayor Jarjura, and members of the Congressional and state delegation that calls on the Postal Service to keep its commitment to the Waterbury Post Office.

"Looking around downtown Waterbury, it's shocking to think that the Postal Service would even consider shutting down this stately facility.  But their recent actions lead us to believe that we have to fight for our post office to remain open.  I'm proud to stand with city leaders, business owners and residents today to prove that we've got strong support for this effort, and we are going to do everything we can to keep its doors open," said Murphy.

Service at the downtown Waterbury Post Office has diminished in recent years, despite the fact that Waterbury's 108,000 residents and hundreds of thriving businesses rely on it for their postal needs.  Yet, in the past few years, Waterbury has made considerable sacrifices in the name of streamlining its postal operations.  The relocation of the mail processing center to Wallingford has cost Waterbury residents and businesses prompt delivery of mail, delaying delivery by as much as a week.  And some postal workers have been sent to work at other facilities, the effects of which can be felt throughout local businesses.

Murphy and the signatories of the letter want reassurance from the Postal Service that the Waterbury Post Office will remain a fixture in downtown to serve the community's needs, writing: "While we understand that the current financial situation of the United States Postal Service necessitates the exploration of significant cost-saving measures, the Grand Street Post Office is a vital institution for residents and business owners throughout the community and should not be a candidate for closure or reduced service."

Hank Paine, President of the Connecticut Store in downtown Waterbury, noted: "We are a private company but our total focus is products made in Connecticut.  We have shipped products to 54 foreign countries, including wiffle balls to China and various orders to Iraq and Afghanistan.  And every bit of that has been walked over to this post office on a daily basis.  And it's only because the post office is in walking distance that we can keep prices down for customers.  If it closes, I don't know what we would do."

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