Congress calls for USPS to suspend sales of historic post offices

[marmar]

from the Daily Californian:


Congress calls for USPS to suspend sales of historic post offices
By Jane Nho | Staff


[font size="1"]Post Office at 2000 Allston Way in Berkeley[/font]


In response to the controversy surrounding the U.S. Postal Service’s efforts to sell the Berkeley post office and other historic post offices across the country, Congress called for the sales to be suspended in its recently passed $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill.

After the Postal Service announced its intent to sell Berkeley’s main post office in the summer of 2012, community members and local lawmakers alike, including Rep. Barbara Lee, rallied in opposition, accusing the USPS of disregarding federal preservation laws and ignoring the voices of the public.

The appropriations bill urges the USPS to halt the sale of historic post offices until the inspector general carries out a complete inspection of the postal system.

While Congress’ suggestion does not come with an enforcement mechanism, in the past, agencies have tended to heed its recommendations, said Carrie Adams, a spokesperson for Lee’s office. ..........................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.dailycal.org/2014/01/21/congress-calls-usps-suspend-historic-post-office-sales/

[FarCenter]

1. Buildings like that are a massive waste of capital and a maintenance headache

USPS' competitors don't foolishly spend money on such buildings.

Yelp gives the service 1.5 stars!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/us-post-office-downtown-berkeley-main-berkeley?nb=1

With that colonnade and the large roof overhangs, wonder what its earthquake rating is? Odds are that sooner or later it is coming down.

[Turbineguy]

2. Apparently the repubs

do not happen to have any friends looking to buy one cheap.

[WinkyDink]

7. BINGO!

[hlthe2b]

3. Some of those old buildings are truly spectacular...

I think the one in Fort Collins was turned into an art museum--that seems very appropriate.

[AleksS]

4. If congress doesn't want them to have to sell off

If congress doesn't want them to have to sell off historic properties maybe they should consider not subjecting the USPS to unheard-of, and unbearable financial burdens. Hmm?

If congress stopped trying to kill the USPS for a minute, maybe the USPS could stop having to keep working to save itself (from congress).

http://www.salon.com/2013/02/06/congress_not_email_destroyed_the_postal_service/

[Coyotl]

5. ^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^

Time to fix the real problem, the burden Congress placed on the USPS.

[legcramp]

6. Wouldn't that put a crimp into DiFi's wine and brie budget?

In another twist, Richard C. Blum, husband of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), is chairman of the board of the company contracted to sell postal properties.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress-wants-delay-in-selling-of-historic-post-offices-until-federal-report-is-completed/2014/01/20/52c5c50c-7f07-11e3-93c1-0e888170b723_story.html

To the tune of $85 BILLION.

[Scuba]

9. +1

[El_Johns]

8. KR. Fund the freaking PO, too.