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The Postal Service’s plan to shift mail processing operations from Tupelo to Memphis poses a serious threat to prompt and reliable mail service for the Tupelo area.
Currently Tupelo to Tupelo (or other 388 zip codes) is an overnight delivery. The only way they can get the mail from Tupelo to Tupelo (or other 388 offices) overnight via Memphis would be to change the collection times to much earlier in the day, thus affecting many businesses dropping their mail off for the day. They would no longer be able to mail out at 5 p.m.; it would be around 11 a.m. Gone would be the days of “I’ll run this bill of mine up to Thomas Street before 7:30 p.m. and it will still go out in the truck.” And if you didn’t change the collection times, then you have to change the “service standard” which is 388 to 388 overnight would now be 388 to 388 in several days.
What does this mean for the citizens of Tupelo and surrounding 388 zip codes? Despite USPS assurances to the contrary, mail service will suffer. We could experience delays of several days in the time it takes to send and receive our mail.
The consolidation plan will also hurt Tupelo and the state of Mississippi’s economy. By moving mail processing operations so far away in another state, we will see the loss of up to 50 postal jobs. Small businesses that depend on prompt mail service also will endure hardships.
This plan will have a profound affect on our community, yet the USPS is advancing its proposal without providing any real evidence that operations will be more efficient.
Tupelo’s postal workers have sounded the alarm about the Postal Service’s poorly conceived consolidation plan. But to stop the consolidation we need more citizens and community leaders to make their voices heard. You can start by also contacting your state representatives, congressmen and the postal service itself.
Please write letters expressing your concern over this proposed consolidation and have everyone you know do the same. You can mail them to the following address: Consumer Affairs Manager, P.O. Box 99695, Jackson, MS 39205-9695.
Lyndia Alvarez
Secretary of Tenn-Tom Area
American Postal Workers Union
Sunday beer sales will be a selling point for Tupelo
It is refreshing to finally see someone stand up to the bullying pulpit of the religious zealots that have had a stranglehold on this city for decades, if not longer.
I applaud Whittington, Newell, Davis, and Pitts for their courage and sensibility not to be swayed by misinformation and exaggerations by those who voiced opposition to Sunday beer sales. Until this city is willing to progress with the times that we live in and not stay stuck in some oppressive time warp, Tupelo will continue to miss out on the opportunities that will make this city grow and prosper.
In a region where manufacturing and food service seems to be the majority of employment opportunities, maybe this will be a selling point for major corporations, looking to expand, to consider Tupelo as a location. Hopefully the same progressive thinking will happen when it comes to dealing with the railroad crossing at crosstown in the future.
Raymond Gunn
Tupelo Editorial citing health care’s moral dimension on target
In regard to the Daily Journal editorial of Oct. 10, thank you so much for putting health care in the “moral humane” area where it belongs.
You have a much better grip on the English language than I.
I have written two or three Forum letters trying to convey the points that you made and now I know I’m not alone in this thinking.
We must have the public option or we will sink even farther into the “almighty dollar rut.”
Those in charge of health care up to now are not going to change. Multi-millionaires are not going to give up this greed.
Allen Thomas
Saltillo
Do you not think having access to beer and then driving around admiring the lovely Tupelo is a selling point? (being sure to not drink then) well frankly, I think more citizens would be happier to drive the roads safer.
PS: I don't even live there but can see this as not a selling point to families.
Ultracreep grew up everywhere and has experienced so many bad things in her life.
Have you ever considered writting fiction. You might do better than Mark Twain.
Keep up the good work, you just might get a job as a liberal journalist.
I hnow what i see when I go to the post office. So has everyone else. Talk all you want the folks can be the judge. Personally the unions just want someting for nothing.
Blame obmanation not me for the problem.
I pay my bills online or in person because the post office is an antique that lives on rising prices. A 9 billion dollar deficit by the post office makes my case. So just suck it up and go on strike!!! Put yourself out of work.
We have the "highly mechanized" machines here. And NEVER EVER have their been 4 or 5 people milling around while customers wait in line for an hour!Get your facts straight before you run your mouth.
I think the postal union just do not want to loose any cushy jobs.
The machines will not demand high pay, health insurance and weeks off for vacations and medical leave.
Just think, in the 1950's it cost 3 cents to mail a letter and 10 dollars to make a long distance phone call. Today it cost 42 cents to mail a first class letter and even less to call anywhere in the world. Yet it is the phone company that is criticized and regulated.
This is the best reason I know to oppose Obamacare. I think most folks supporting national health care believe they will get top medical care at no out of pocket cost. That is just not going to happen. The rich and greedy will always have the best health care, because the rich and greedy are all in the Whitehorse, congress or work for labor unions. Obama is making sure that people and profitable companies that create jobs will be taxed out of business and the government will bail out their buddies that cannot run a profitable business. Wheres the beef (taxes) going to come from to pay for healthcare.
By the way I am happy to see the sunday beer sales. I am sure many businesses will flock to Tupelo to get beer drinking workers. They would probably not come to Tupelo for a stable work force or tax breaks.