Washington, DC- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today wrote Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer Patrick R. Donahoe for the United States Postal Service (USPS), urging against the closure of nine post offices in rural parts of Ulster, Sullivan and Delaware Counties in New York. The Postal Service recently announced it is studying the potential closure of the postal stations.

"I am deeply concerned that the closing of small community Post Office facilities would undermine service to local residents," he wrote. "Many of these individuals live in areas with limited or no rural delivery. The Post Office locations highlighted for closure in this study are in areas that lack reliable public transportation and where many senior citizens and other residents have limited options for traveling to other Post Offices for their mail service. While I understand the need for USPS to implement cost savings and efficiencies, decisions regarding facility closures should not be made on the basis of which stations are self-sustaining. Maintaining Postal services and universal access to all Americans, including in our small rural communities, is a fundamental responsibility of the USPS and must be factored into any restructuring proposals."