Postal official: No local closings this year

FINGER LAKES—According to Karen Mazurkiewicz, United States Postal Service (USPS) communication coordinator for western New York, there are no post offices in Yates, Steuben, or Schuyler Counties set to close in 2011. Mazurkiewicz added, “The only exception to this would be a closing because of a safety issue, an emergency situtation (a fire or some other sudden occurrence) or possibly a problem with a building lease.”
Mazurkiewicz said that current U.S. law does not allow a public postal facility to close for an economic reason. However, that law does not include postal processing sub-stations or branch facilities of larger post offices. In western New York the areas with branches or sub-stations are in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Jamestown, Rochester, Elmira and Ithaca.
Mazurkiewicz said that the USPS is currently evaluating the feasibility of many sub-stations and branch facilities across the state and the country. In January, the Wall Street Journal reported that 2,000 post offices would be closing in 2011. Mazurkiewicz said she has read that report and says the 2,000 number is an old number from a previous post office spokesperson. Mazurkiewicz said she is not aware of the actual number that may eventually be announced to close.