CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — The U.S. Postal Service is looking at closing or consolidating hundreds of post offices across the country, possibly as soon as March.
As recently as the summer of 2009, the Derita branch was up for possible closure or consolidation. Now that talk of closing or consolidating offices has resurfaced, customers there wondered if it will again be on the chopping block.
"If they close that down, I'm not exactly sure where I would have to go to drop my mail off," Tonikka Fowler said.
Fowler has been applying for new jobs since being laid off last year and goes to the Derita branch on a weekly basis.
"It's smaller, but they can get you in and out quicker than the other post office off North Tryon Street," Fowler said.
Postal workers said they've heard nothing about possible closures. When Channel 9 asked for a list of post offices that could be up for closure, a spokesperson said, "There is no list because the locations have not yet been determined."
The Wall Street Journal reported that as many as 2,000 locations could close.
The USPS told Channel 9 that figure includes consolidations and other cutbacks.
Customers told Channel 9 they think the postal service should cut back service one day out of the week rather than closing a branch entirely as a cost-cutting measure.
The Derita-Statesville Road Community Organization, which was instrumental in saving the post office in 2009, said it will plan another grassroots campaign if the Derita station is slated to close.
WSOC
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