CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For as long as most homeowners can remember, getting the mail has meant reaching into the mailbox right at their houses, but in an effort to stop massive losses at the post office, that could be in danger.
For all the talk of ending mail deliveries on Saturdays, there is an even bigger change now being considered for the U.S.
Postal Service and it is quickly getting the attention of homeowners in Charlotte.
"I do not like that at all," said Linzie Adams. She is talking about suggestions that the post office eliminate door-to-door mail deliveries as a way to save money. Instead of mailboxes on houses or at the end of the driveway, several members of Congress are suggesting centralized clusters of mailboxes like those that apartments and condos already use.
"That would be kind of rough, wouldn't it? I mean, if they do not deliver, what about people that can't get out," said Adams.
Sitting on his front porch on Tuesday, John Westmoreland said that would be a huge problem for the elderly and those with health problems, like his own wife.
"She has a congestive heart failure and diabetes. She couldn't walk down there to get it," said Westmoreland.
Not everyone is so concerned.
"It wouldn't bother me. A fellow needs exercise. People are too lazy these days," said H.T. Purser.
But it was Rochelle Walkup who offered the most interesting opinion on Monday, on a potential change that has a lot of others anxious.
"I think that mail has become a little bit more irrelevant to me, personally. I do not use it very much," she said.
The idea of stopping home mail delivery is making some waves in Washington. On Monday, Eyewitness News received a statement from Rep. Robert Pittenger, who said while saving money at the Post Office is needed, eliminating door-to-door delivery is pure nonsense that would hasten the demise of the Postal Service.
A Congressional committee takes up the issue on Wednesday.