Demonstrators Decry Decision to Close Pasadena Postal Facility

Members of Occupy Pasadena joined with postal workers, union officials, and area politicians on Monday evening to demonstrate near the steps of City Hall against the USPS’s decision to close the Mack Robinson Mail Processing Facility.

Between speeches, many shouted chants of “keep it open” and “back off” during the protest. Congresswoman Judy Chu was one of the first to address the assembly.

“If this plan goes through, it will literally destroy Mack Robinson’s mail processing capacity,” said Chu. “Mail will be processed far away in Los Angeles, needlessly delaying mail delivery. We can’t give up.

“They’re calling it a “limited consolidation” but it’s limited only in name,” Chu continued. “If the post office goes through with its plan, it will have significant consequences for San Gabriel Valley residents, businesses, and our dedicated postal office workers.”

The reason for Monday’s demonstration was the Postal Regulatory Commission’s Saturday denial of the American Postal Workers Union’s request for an emergency order to stop USPS from implementing its latest plan to consolidate mail processing service centers across the nation.

That decision directly affects facilities like Pasadena leading to their closure in many cases.

“What makes this so excruciatingly frustrating is that this is so unnecessary,” said Congressman Adam Schiff. “We all know that there has been a decrease in the volume of first class mail because of the increase use of email. We understand that that’s a problem that has to be dealt with. But the post office has much bigger financial problems.

“I remember when we came here to dedicate this facility and I’m here to say that Mack Robinson is part of our community,” added Schiff. “These are good, dedicated public servants who deliver our mail, who bring us our packages, and they are part of our community.”

Others spoke about the part that the Mack Robinson facility has played in making it a crucial part of the community. One recalled that, in order to erect the facility, a church was closed and a school was moved. To close the facility now would be “a slap in the face to the many who sacrificed” to get it built, the speaker said.

“Pasadena is recovering from one of the toughest economic climates we’ve experienced in generations,” stated Mayor Bill Bogaard. “Our economic recovery is fragile. This action simply puts further jeopardy on our economic recovery and all the economic benefits that come to the people of this community. Let’s keep it open.”

More than 200 postal workers are affected by the decision. Most will have to commute long distances to other locations, move away, or find other work. The USPS overall plan will  lose or consolidate a total of 229 — half of the nation’s mail processing centers—by the end of 2014.