Key West Citizen letter

Timing was bad for postal survey

I would like to thank Jack Baldwin, a clerk at the Key West post office and the president of the local American Postal Workers Union, for highlighting the tremendous service and dedication of the men and women at the Key West post office. I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Baldwin in his assessment that his fellow postal workers are amongst the friendliest and most diligent in South Florida, if not the nation.

Having toured the Key West postal facility on multiple occasions, I have viewed firsthand the incredible efficiency of the local postal workers in processing hundreds of parcels daily. Despite such outstanding service, long lines and extended wait times continue. The current staffing formula is a result of a survey-visit of the Keys post office conducted by post office administrators during the month of August.

The staffing calculations reached by the post office administrators are grossly inaccurate, as they fail to consider the traveling nature of the Keys tourist population and seasonal residents. I have repeatedly called upon the postal agency to conduct its staff assessments during seasonally appropriate times, that is, the high-season months of December and January.

As your elected representative in Congress, I will continue to work with individuals such as Jack Baldwin and other local and federal officials to ensure that our local post office receives the funding it requires, the staff it needs and the recognition for outstanding service it deserves.

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, 18th Congressional District