Meeting Set To Discuss Ending Mail Processing in Western New York

Earlier this month, information was shared in Western New York about the potential for the United States Postal Service to close the Buffalo Mail Processing and Distribution Center at the Main Buffalo Post Office on William Street.

Since the plan to shift mail processing to Rochester became known to the public, there has been a large uproar from all over Western New York against the Postal Service to stop the pending closure.

Statements have been coming in from all ends of the spectrum, from the American Postal Workers (APWU) Local 374 President to the US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer; the opinions are all largely the same: leave Buffalo's post office alone.

Let me be perfectly clear: any plans to alter operations at Buffalo’s William Street Postal Facility that would undermine local mail service or create undue hardship on our dedicated postal workers should immediately be stamped ‘return to sender.’ We need full transparency from the USPS — ASAP — about any new proposals to alter mail operations so all stakeholders can assess their potential impacts. Western New Yorkers rely on the mail for daily life, whether it be for packages, letters, checks, prescription medications, or communications with loved ones, and the public and our local postal union workers deserve and need full transparency from USPS... Given what we have seen in the past as a result of USPS’s proposal to consolidate processing facilities, including previous plans to close this facility in 2011, which I helped stop, there is good reason for serious concern this could negatively impact mail service for Western NY. So, Attn. USPS, because this is addressed to you – community service, community input, and the needs of our workers and the top tier mail service in Western NY need to come first, no excuses.
-Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader

With the large outcry about this potential plan, the Postal Service is holding a public meeting to discuss its plan for the Buffalo Mail Processing and Distribution Center.

That meeting is scheduled to happen at the Creekside Banquet Facility, 2669 Union Road in Cheektowaga, and is set to start at 3pm on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 . At the meeting, officials from the USPS will discuss the proposal to shift operations to Rochester and give people the opportunity to ask questions and make comments.

In addition to the meeting on January 31st, the Postal Service is also accepting online comments. You can submit those comments here on this online form.

There are more than 700 jobs on the line, so the public is encouraged to attend or submit comments.

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