PostOfficeSales—OurNewDealLegacyatStake
BerkeleyPostOfficeSaleonHoldforNow
April18,2015
TheUnitedStatesPostalServicehasdroppedplanstoselltheBerkeleyPostOffice.
ThetermsofafederalcourtorderrequireUSPStostartfromscratchifittriesagain
tosellthehistoricNewDealpostoffice,itwillhavetostartfromscratch.
Thejudgedidnotruleontwolawsuitschargingthesalewasconductedinanillegal
manner.Clickhereforthefullarticle.
USPSDefiesCourtonBerkeleyPostOfficeSale
April11,2015
AfteraU.S.DistrictCourtjudgeaskedtheUnitedStatesPostalServicetorescind
severaldocuments(seearticlehere),theUSPSsubmitteditsresponse,whichhas
beencharacterizedbyoneoftheattorneysrepresentingtheCityofBerkeley,Tony
Rossmann,asa"totaldodge."TheUSPSwillnotrescindthe"finaldetermination"for
relocationofretailservicessothecaseisnowripeforthefederalcourttoreview
theUSPS'failuretocomplywiththeNationalEnvironmentalProtectionAct(NEPA)
andtheNationalHistoricPreservationAct(NHPA).
Rossmannsaidinanemailedcommentthat,“iftheirargumentmadesense,itshould
havebeenraisedfirstthinginthelitigation,orintheirmotiontodismiss.”TheUSPS'
“unlawfulNEPAandNHPAactionsarestillonthebooks.USPScouldsimplyhave
answeredtheCourt'squestion,'Werescindalltheactionsthattheplaintiffs
complainof.'Theydidnotdothat.Theyignoredtwo(NEPAandNHPA)andastothe
third,the'decisiontorelocate,'theirresponseis'wedon'tknowhowtodothat.'
Instead,theyraisethevolumeontheirclearmessagethat'weareimmunefrom
judicialreview.'”
OnApril3,BerkeleyandtheNationalTrustfiledinitialresponsestotheUSPS.
Hopefullytheresponseswillresultinthejudgedecidingtohearthecaseonits
merits.
JudgeKeepsSuitsAgainstBerkeleyPostOfficeSaleAlive
April3,2015
ThecityofBerkeleyandtheNationalTrustforHistoricPreservationhavefiled
separatesuitsagainsttheUnitedStatesPostalServiceinanefforttostopitssaleof
thehistoricBerkeleyPostOffice.USPSaskedU.S.DistrictCourtJudgeWilliamAlsup
todismissthesuits.
Alsupdidn'truleonthemotionimmediately,buthedidaskUSPStorescindseveral
documents.Themovecouldleadtoin-depthenvironmentalstudiesandpublic
hearings.
Clickhereforthefullstory.
Kingston,Pennsylvania,PostOfficeSoldButNotLost
Feb.9,2015
NNDPABoardMemberDaveLembeckreportsthattheKingston,Penn.,postoffice
hasbeenonthemarketforseveralyears.Itwasrecentlyboughtbyabank.Thegood
news,accordingtothelocalnewspaper,isthatthebuildingwillcontinuetohouse
postalservices,andthelobbyandmuralwillbeunchangedandwillbeaccessibleto
thepublic.
GrayBrechin'sCommentsonCivicResponsibilityandtheNewDeal
June29,2014
I'vejustreadabookonFDRasco-designerofsixpostofficesnearhishomeinHyde
ParkintheHudsonValley.Here'swhatIfound:
"AnotherincentivefortheacceleratedbuildingprogramwasRoosevelt's
beliefthatgovernment-sponosredarchitectureinAmericaleftmuchtobe
desired.Heintendedtoaddhigh-qualityfederalbuildingstotheAmerican
landscapeduringhistenureinoffice.
SecretaryoftheTreasuryHenryJ.MortenthauJr.explainedthesituationin
hisspeechatthededicationoftheRhinebeckpostoffice.Hisdepartment
broughtontothestaffinWashingtontwenty-onearchitectsofrecognized
standingfromdifferentsectionsofthecountry,whoseworkwaspassed
uponbyfouroutstandingarchitectsofnationalreputation.Theaimwas"not
onlytobuildbuildingsofmaximumusefulnessbuttogivethemacharacter
andadignitythatwillbeagenuinecontributiontotheadvancementof
architectureinthecommunitiesinwhichtheyhavebeenbuilt."Allsixpost
officesintheMid-Hudsongroupweredesignedbyoneofthearchitects
broughttoWashingtontofulfilltheTreasuryDepartment'smission.
SecretaryMorgenthaumadeasignificantadditiontohisremarksin
Rhinebeck:"Intheideaswehaveputintoeffectinthepublicbuilding
programwehavefollowedtheleadofone,whoseenthusiasticinterestinthe
projectofbuildingbeautifulandserviceableandappropriatepublicbuildings
neverflags."ThepersonhewasreferringtowasFDR.
BerniceL.Thomas,“TheStampofFDR:NewDealPostOfficesintheMidHudsonValley,”PurpleMountainPress,2002,p.12
There'smuchmore,butthisspeakseloquentlytothesenseofcivicresponsibility
withwhichFDR,Henry&ElinorMrogenthau,EdwardBruce,GeorgeBiddle,and
othersintendedpublicpostofficestobeinvested,aresponsibilityentirelyaliento
thosetodaysuchasTomSamraandPostmasterGeneralPatrickDonohoe.
BrechinisapastboardmemberofNNDPA.
CrowdfundingCampaignforNationalPostOfficeCollaborate
May6,2014
TheNationalPostOfficeCollaborateisattemptingtostopthesaleofhistoricpost
officesthroughlegalaction.Theyhavestartedacrowdfundingcampaign,asking
peopletopledgeonline.ThecampaignrunsthroughMay31.
Aportionoftheappealfollows:
InlargeandsmalltownsthroughoutAmerica,ourhistoricpostofficesandtheirart
illustratetherichstoryofthetriumphsandtribulationsofourgreatnation.Now,
theyarebeingsoldtoprivateowners–rippedfromtheAmerican
landscape…forever.Stopthegive-away!DonatetotheNationalPostOffice
Collaborate.Yourcontributionwillhelpuscontinuelegalactionsneededtokeep
ourpostoffices.
Over70historicpostofficeshaveeitherbeensoldorareonthemarketforsale.
Therearehundredsmorethatareindanger.Salesareproceedingatlightningspeed
withminimalrestrictionsondevelopment.Ourhistoricassetsarebeingprivatized,
abandonedandallowedtodecayorarebeingtorndown.Theyareoftentheheartof
ourvitalandhistoricdowntowns.
ListedonourNationalRegistry,thesepostofficeswerebuilttoshowtheAmerican
peoplethattheywereimportanttotheirfederalgovernment.Manyincludeartfrom
ourfinestNewDealartists.Taxpayerdollarspaidforthisartthatshowsthe
personalityandheritageofourcommunities…Artthatchroniclesourjourney…Art
thatinformsandenrichesthisgenerationandeverygenerationyettocome.Artthat
belongstothepeopleandispartofourpublictrust.
TheNationalPostOfficeCollaboratehasalreadymadegreatstridesinthefederal
courtbutthereismuchmoreworktobedone.OurgoalistoensurethatPostOffice
buildingsinourcommunitiesarevaluedandthatwecaninnovatenewwaystolive
withthepresentwhileembracinghistory.
USPSSeeksBuyersforNewDealTreasureintheBronx
Feb.5,2014
InspiteofCongress'effortstoslowdownpostofficesales,theUnitedStatesPostal
ServiceisaskingforoffersonalargepostofficewithimportantNewDealmuralsin
theBronx.ThisNewYorkTimesarticlehasthedetails.
Breaking:ARayofHopeasCongressTriestoSlowDownSales
Jan.28,2014
AsdiscussedinthisWashingtonPostarticle,therecentbudgetdealcallsonthe
USPStohaltsalesofpostofficespendingafederalreview.Apparentlylocal
oppositiontoindividualclosuresandsaleshasgottentheattentionofacriticalmass
ofmembersofCongress.
ThisarticlefocusesonthethreatenedpostofficeinBerkeley,Calif.,anditincludes
quotesfromNNDPAPresidentHarveySmith.ThisarticlealsofocusesonBerkeley,
withmorenationalbackground.
AnOverviewoftheIssuesWeFace
July27,2013
TheemailexchangebelowbetweenGailJacobsonoftheLaJolla(Calif.)Historical
SocietyandCliffLaube,publicprogramsspecialistattheFranklinD.Roosevelt
PresidentialLibraryandMuseumispresentedheretoprovideanoverviewofthe
issuesandthreatsfacingNewDealpostoffices.
July11,2013
DearCliffLaube:
Thankyoufortakingmycallrecently.Asyourequested,hereisaproposaltothe
FranklinD.PresidentialLibraryforanexhibitandcataloguecollectiontohighlight
thehistoricNewDealEraPostOffices,muralsandsculpturesoftheUnitedStates.
Why:
PresidentFranklinRoosevelt'sNewDealbuiltover1000beautifulpostoffices
throughouttheUnitedStates,manywithspectacularmuralsandsculptures.
Today,however,manyNewDealEraPostPostOffices,postalmuralsand
sculpturesareinjeopardyduetotheannouncementbyPostmasterGeneralPatrick
DonahoeinapressreleaseonJuly26,2011thatduetofiscalchallenges,thepostal
servicewillbeclosing,relocatingandsellingthousandsofpostalfacilities--including
ourNewDealErapostofficesthroughouttheUnitedStates.
Newsitemsofannouncementofpotentialclosureof3700postofficesonJuly
26,2011whichcoincideswithanniversaryofwhenBenjaminFranklin
appointedfirstPostmasterGeneral,July26,1775
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43901322/ns/business-us_business/t/post-officeben-franklins-house-may-close
http://www.fox11online.com/dpps/news/strange/post-office-in-ben-franklinshouse-may-close-ob11-jgr_3894629
Asyoumayknow,theseNewDealPostOfficeswerebuiltwithspecialcare.They
werebuiltintheheartofacommunityandmuralistswerecommissionedtocreatea
scenereflectiveofthelocalarea'shistory,sceneryandlabor.
EverycommunitythathasaNewDealErapostofficeisfightingtosavetheir
belovedbuildingsandmuralsbecausetheyareanintegralpartoftheculturaland
historicidentityoftheirtown.
Herearelinkstoarticlesregardingthebattlessomecitiesarewagingtosavetheir
historicpostofficesandkeepthemopenaspostofficeswiththeirmuralsintact:
Links:
ThesestorieshighlightcommunitiesfightingtosavetheirNewDealErapostoffices
&muralsfromsalebytheU.S.PostalService:
VeniceCA
http://www.savethepostoffice.com/selling-venice-post-office-more-than-touch-ofevil
LaJollaCA
http://www.savethepostoffice.com/final-blow-postal-service-issues-finaldetermination-sell-la-jollas-post-office
BronxNY
http://www.savethepostoffice.com/usps-bronx-drop-dead-gpo-must-go
http://www.savethepostoffice.com/binding-nation-together-berkeley-and-bronxjoin-forces-save-post-office
SomehistoricbuildingshouseNewDealArt:
http://www.savethepostoffice.com/newarks-lautenberg-post-office-may-be-soldsenator-rolling-over-his-grave
http://www.savethepostoffice.com/legacy-sale-postal-service-has-no-shame
IproposethattheFranklinD.RooseveltPresidentialLibrarycreateanexhibitas
soonaspossiblethathighlightsthebuildingsandartcreatedduringtheNewDeal
forthepostalservice.Itwouldalsobeeducationaltoenablethepublicto
understandthepurposeinmindbehindtheNewDealeraartandpostalbuildings
andtheirspecialplaceinthehistoryandlegacyofAmericaforpresentandfuture
generations.Everypostalbuildingandmuralwouldbecataloguedwith
photographsinaspecialcollectiontoinsurethatthisimportantaspectoftheNew
Dealisrememberedforalltime.
TheNewDealEraPostOfficesandmuralsmustbetreatedbythoseentrustedwith
themasimportantculturalandhistoriciconsofourgreatAmericanhistory.
However,atpresent,itappearsthatthepostalserviceleadersareviewingthese
importantbuildingsandartmerelyasrealestatetobeboughtandsold.TheNew
Dealerapostofficesandarthaveauniqueplaceinourhistorybecausetheywere
alsobuilttoupliftthepeoplewhentheywenttotheirlocalpostofficeatatime
whenthecountrywaspullingitselfoutoftheeconomicdepression.Thesebuildings
couldbeconsideredpalacesofthepeoplewheretheycouldviewspecialartfreeof
charge,thepeople'sart.DuringtheDepressionyearshavingsuchabeautifulpost
officealsoreflectedtheimportantfactthatgovernmentcouldworkforAmericansin
atimeofneed.Itwasthefriendlyfaceofgovernmentworkingforandbythepeople.
ThesebuildingswerebuiltatacrucialtimewhenRoosevelt'svisionforraising
Americaupfromtheeconomicproblemsofthedayincludedputtingarchitects,
artists,andsculpturestoworkcreatingsomethingthatwouldlastformany
generations.
WashingtonD.C.hasitsSmithsonianMuseums,Jefferson,Washington&Lincoln
Monuments,theWhiteHouseandCongress.Thetownsandcitiesthroughoutthe
U.S.havetheirNewDealErapostofficesandart.Congresswouldneverallowthe
saleofthehistoricCongressionalbuilding.ThePresidentwouldneverallowthesale
oftheWhiteHouse.TheNewDealPostOfficesarejustasimportantastheseother
buildingsinmanyrespects,andasyoucanseefromtheabovelinks,every
communitythathasthesespecialbuildingsoperatingaspostofficesarefightingto
savethem.TheproposedexhibitcouldalsoservetoremindCongress,thePresident,
thePostmasterGeneral,andtheAmericanpeopleandpresswhyweneedtotake
greatercareofourNewDealerapostofficesandart,notjustfornow,butforfuture
generationsandforourAmericanheritage.
Ilookforwardtohearingfromyouregardingmyproposal.
Thankyouforyourtimeandconsiderationofthismatter.
Sincerely,
GailJacobson
July12,2013
DearMs.Jacobson,
ThankyouforreachingouttotheFranklinD.RooseveltPresidentialLibraryand
Museumwiththisrequest.
AsImentionedtoyouonthephoneearlierthisweek,wejustopenedanewstate-ofthe-artpermanentexhibitionthatcontainstwogalleriesdevotedtotheNewDeal
anditslegacies.PartoftheexhibitsisaninteractivedisplayhighlightingmanyNew
DealprojectsAmericansstillseetodaythroughoutthecountry.
Additionally,wehavedevelopedamorecomprehensiveonlinedatabaseofNew
Dealprojects--whileit'snotyetascomprehensiveasCalifornia'sownLivingNew
Dealproject--itisquitebroadinitsscopeandwehaveincludedafeaturethat
allowsonlinevisitorstopopulatethedatabase.Youcanseeithere:
http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/archives/resources/newdealprojects.html
Unfortunately,theLibraryisnotinapositiontocomplementtheseeffortswitha
specialexhibitionatthistime.Wehaveafullcalendaroftemporaryexhibitsover
thenextfewyears.
Wecertainlywishyouluckinyourefforts,
Sincerely,
CliffLaube
July20,2013
DearMr.Laube:
ThankyouforyourpromptresponsetomyemailandproposalforaspecialExhibit
andCatalogCollectionofNewDealEraPostOffices,MuralsandSculpturesat
theFranklinD.RooseveltPresidentialLibraryandMuseum.
Congratulationsontheopeningofyournewstate-of-the-artpermanentexhibition
thatcontainstwogalleriesdevotedtotheNewDealanditslegacies.Ihaveusedthe
linkyouprovidedinyouremailtometoaccesstheNewDealprojectscollection
online.
ThankyouforsharingthelinktothedatabaseonNewDealEraprojects.Ifpossible,
Irecommendthatitwouldbehelpfultoincludeinformationinthisdatabaseonall
theNewDealpostoffices,muralsandsculpturesthatwerecreatedaswellaswhat
hashappenedtothemnowinmorespecificterms.Thatwaythepublicwillknow
whathappenedtothesebuildingsthatwereoncepostofficeswithpublicartand
sculpturesandwheretheymightbeabletogotoseethemifthebuildingisbeing
usedforanotherpurposeorevenifithasbeendemolishedaswasthecasewiththe
NewDealPostOfficeinVirginiaBeach,VA.Ihopeyourdatabasewilllistallofthe
postofficesandartcreatedduringtheNewDeal,notjusttheonesthatarestill
functioningtodayaspostoffices.
http://www.savethepostoffice.com/legacy-sale-historic-post-offices-market
http://www.savethepostoffice.com/post-topics/new-deal-post-offices?page=1
Also,ifpossible,itwouldbeimportanttoincludephotographicpicturesofthePost
Offices,muralsandsculpturesinyourdatabaseaswellasthegeneralbackgroundin
textform.Itishelpfulthatyouhaveprovidedlinkstothe
http://www.newdealartregistry.org/map/thatcontainsphotographsoftheNew
DealEraArt.However,IdidnotfindphotographsoftheNewDealErapostoffice
buildings.Awrittendescriptionishelpful,butthephotosarenecessarytoconvey
thebeautyofthesespecialbuildingsandart.Inregardtothebuildings,Isuggest
photosoftheexteriorandinteriortoshowthegreatcaretakentomakethese
specialpalacesofthepeople.ForexampletheSantaMonicapostofficehasexquisite
ArtDecodesignswithinthelobbyofthebuildingaswellasontheexterior.Irealize
thatyournewdatabaseisaworkinprogress.
EventhoughyoumentionedthattheFranklinD.RooseveltPresidentialLibraryand
MuseumareunabletohaveanotherexhibitatthistimesolelyonNewDealEraPost
Officesandtheirartmuralsandsculptures,Isincerelyhopethatinthenearfuture
youconsiderthisfocusedexhibitandcatalogtochronicletheimportanceand
purposeofwhythesebuildingswerecreatedintheheartofeachcommunityto
serveAmericansaspartofPresidentRoosevelt'slegacyoftheNewDeal.
Today,manycitizensthroughouttheUnitedStatesarefightingtosavetheirNew
DealEraPostOfficesandmurals,andtheyaredeeplydistressedatthecavalier
attitudeoftheUSPStosellourpublichistoriclegaciestoprivateindividualsand
enterprisesdespitethepetitionsoflocalcommunitiestosavetheirpostalfacilities
andNewDealart.ThereseemstobeasuddenrushattheUSPStoselloffimportant
publicproperty,buildingsandartwhichremovesitfromthepubliccommonsforall
peopletoaccessandenjoyfreely.EventhoughtheUSPSclaimsithasfiscal
challenges,thereiswidecontroversyregardinghowtheUSPShasdecidedto
"relocate"andthensellofftheseNewDealpostoffices.Theamountofmoney
supposedly"saved"throughrelocationandsell-offandleasebackofotherspace
doesnotalwaysadduptolongtermsavingsovertimeforUSPSandforthelocal
communities.Perhapsthemuseumandlibrarymaywishtolaunchastudyofwhat
ishappeningtoourphysicalstructuresandartoftheNewDealLegacyandwhy.The
followingarticlecallsintoquestionthemethodologyusedbyUSPStoclose,
"relocate"andthensellhistoricNewDealpostofficesandart.SellingmanyNew
DealeraPostOfficeswhichwealreadyownmayactuallycostmoremoneyforUSPS
downtheroadwhentheyattempttocarryexpensiveleaseson"relocated"post
officeswithinacommunity.
http://www.savethepostoffice.com/haste-makes-waste-hidden-cost-closing-postoffices
HereisanexampleofhowUSPSsoldanhistoric1916postofficeofficeinGreenwich
CTthatcontainedanimportantNewDealmural,"OldDaysofGreenwich,"and
replaceditwithahorribleuglyleasedstructure.Whenaskedaboutthemuralinside
ofthehistoricpostoffice,aUSPSrepresentativesaid,""Thisisoneofourtreasures,
andwedotrytotakegoodcareofthemall."However,"try"isdifferentthan
"guarantee".Thereisnoguaranteethatthemuralwillremaininthepublicdomain
orbeproperlypreservedforpresentandfuturegenerationsbyUSPS.
http://www.savethepostoffice.com/old-days-greenwich-and-new
ItappearsthepurposeandvisionwithwhichtheNewDealpostofficesandartwere
createdarebeingsnatchedfromthecommunitiestheyhavefaithfullyservedsince
theywerebuiltinthe1930s.TherehasneverbeenanothertimeinU.S.history
whensomanyNewDealpostofficesandmuralshavebeensolddespitetheoutcries
ofeachcommunitytokeepthemfunctioningaspostoffices.Onewouldhopethat
theFranklinD.RooseveltPresidentialLibraryandMuseumwouldtakeaspecial
interestinpreservingnotjustthememoryofthesepostofficebuildingsandart,but
thephysicalpostofficesandartthemselvessothatfuturegenerationscanenjoy
themandunderstandwhyandhowtheycametobecreated.
HereisaquotethatIcameacrossfromarecenttalkbyGrayBrechin,Ph.D.,
historicalgeographerandauthor,andfounderoftheLivingNewDealProjectin
California,regardingthesell-offofourbeautifulhistoricpostoffices:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCz8yhRbDDY
“ThePostOfficeisthevisibleformofthefederalgovernmenttoevery
communityandtoeverycitizen.Itshandistheonlyonethattouchesthelocal
life,thesocialinterestsandbusinessconcernofeveryneighborhood.”
PostmasterGeneralJohnWanamaker
TheabovequotefromPostmasterGeneralJohnWanamakerhighlightsthegreat
significanceofthepostofficetoitscitizens.ItisclearthatFDR'svisionofcreating
specialpostofficesandartshowshisgreatconcerntoupliftanyonewhowalked
intotheirpostofficeonadailybasis.TheNewDealPostOfficesdemonstrate
democracyinactionwherethepubliccouldenjoytheirtown'sbeautifulmagnificent
buildingpaidforbythem,builtbythemandusedbythem.However,thesebuildings
thatwerepaidforbyAmericansarebeingtakenawayagainsttheirwillandsold.In
thecaseofNewDealPostOfficessuchasVeniceandUkiah,thosecommunitiesnow
havenomorepublicartandnomoreupliftingNewDealPostOfficetobethefaceof
ourdemocracyandoftheNewDealbuiltbyFDRandhisadministration.Many
Americansarelookingforassistancetostopthesell-offoftheirNewDealbuildings
andart.IhopethattheFranklinD.RooseveltPresidentialLibraryandMuseum
canworkinsomecapacitytohelppreservetheselivinglegaciesnowbefore
it'stoolate.
http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_21371080/historic-ukiah-post-office-muralremoved
BestofluckwithyourprojectsandexhibitionsfortheFranklinD.Roosevelt
PresidentialLibraryandMuseum.Iamdelightedtoknowaboutthewonderful
programsyouarehostingattheMuseumandLibrary.
Sincerely,
GailJacobson
NationalPostOfficeCollaborateChallengesBronxPostOfficeSale
TheNationalPostOfficeCollaboratehasraisedseverallegalissuesinaletterto
USPSabouttheirplannedsaleofaBronxpostoffice.Readthearticlehere.
OverviewofPreservationists'EffortstoSavePostOffices
ThisNewYorkTimesarticlegivesagoodoverviewoftheconflictbetween
preservationistsandtheUSPostalService,withafocusonthethreatenedNewDeal
postofficeinSantaMonica,CA
PrivateOwnerofCaliforniaPostOfficeAppropriatesPublicArt
TheUSPSsoldtheVenice,CAPostOfficebutretainsownershipoftheNewDeal
muralthatwasinsidethepostoffice(picturebelow).Thenewowner,however,has
removedthemuralandmadeitinaccessibletothepublic.Readthefullstoryhere.
VenicePostOfficeMural
PostalServiceMovestoSellNewDealTreasureintheBronx
TheNewYorkTimesrecentlyreportedthattheU.S.PostalServicehasannounced
planstoselloneoftheDepression-erapostofficesintheBronx.Thishistoricsite
featureslargemuralsbySocialRealistpaintersBenShahnandBernardaBryson.To
readthefullstory,clickhere.
HistoricPostOfficesWithNewDealMuralsSoldorForSale
ThehistoricU.S.PostOfficeslistedbelowhavebeensoldorarebeingofferedfor
sale,andmanyareclosing.ManyareNewDealcreatedstructureswiththeirhistoric
andfineartmuralsallinjeopardy.Publicbuildingsandpublicartcreatedforandby
thepeoplebetween1933-43areMainstreetlandmarksthathaveservedthe
countryonadailybasisoveranumberofgenerations.Isyourpostofficeonthe
block?JoinNNDPAintheirattemptstopreservetheseAmericantreasuresofservice.
Moreinfoaboutthesepostofficescanbefoundonthewebsite
SaveThePostOffice.com
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Annapolis, Maryland
Berkeley, California
Bethesda, Maryland
Boone, North Carolina
Bronx, New York
Buffalo, New York
Burlingame, California
Camas, Washington
Charleston, Illinois
Cheraw, South Carolina
Eugene, Oregon
Fairfield Connecticut
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Firestone Station, South Gate,
California
Flemington, New Jersey
Fullerton, California
Geneva, Illinois
Glendale, California
Gulfport, Mississippi
Greenwich, Connecticut
Huntington Beach, California
Kingston, Pennsylvania
La Jolla, California
Lakewood, New Jersey
Modesto, California
Norristown, Pennsylvania
North Little Rock, Arkansas
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Northfield, Minnesota
Northport, New York
Norwich, Connecticut
Palm Beach, Florida
Palo Alto, California
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Plymouth, Michigan
Princeton, New Jersey
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Racine, Wisconsin
Redlands, California
Reno, Nevada
San Rafael, California
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Monica, California
St. Joseph, Missouri
St. Paul, Minnesota
Somerville, Massachusetts
Stamford, Connecticut
Ukiah, California
Venice, California
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Villa Park, Illinois
Washington, D.C
Westport, Connecticut
Yankton, South Dakota
York, Pennsylvania
PetitionForReasonableFundingRequirementsfortheU.S.PostalService
Atleast80%ofthedeficitintheUSPSannualbudgetiscausedbyaCongressional
requirementthatitprefundretirees'benefitsatalevelfarinexcesswhatisrequired
ofprivatecompaniesoranyothergovernmentagency.Therearedifferent
explanationsofwhythisrequirementwasenactedin2006.Thispetition,sponsored
byCREDOaction,makespoliticalstatementsthatarenotofficiallyendorsedby
NNDPA.
CommentaryonLegalIssuesAroundPostOfficeClosures
Berkeley,California,isoneofthepostofficesontheendangeredlist.ArthurStopes,
IIIofBerkeleypresentsalegalargumentagainstpostofficeclosures.Thispieceis
circulatingontheInternet,withacontactphonenumberof510-548-5238.
DearFriendsandPatronsoftheBerkeleyMainPostOffice:
Thepeople'sconcernforthefateoftheBerkeleyMainPostOffice,maybe
augmentedbyKnowledgeoftheLegalLIMITS-imposedbyCongress-ofthosewho
flaunttheir"briefauthority".Pleasenote:
TITLE39-POSTALSERVICE(UnitedStatesCodes)
PARTI-GENERAL
CHAPTER1-POSTALPOLICYANDDEFINITIONS
Sec.101.Postalpolicy
(a)TheUnitedStatesPostalServiceshallbeoperatedasabasicandfundamental
serviceprovidedtothepeoplebytheGovernmentoftheUnitedStates,authorized
bytheConstitution,createdbyActofCongress,andsupportedbythepeople.
...
[and]
(b)…Nosmallpostofficeshallbeclosedsolelyforoperatingatadeficit,itbeingthe
specificintentoftheCongressthateffectivepostalservicesbeinsuredtoresidents
ofbothurbanandruralcommunities.(Emphasesofbothsubsectionsadded.)
ObviousConclusions:
A.TheService(especiallyofamajorpostoffice)isrequiredtocontinuetobe
operated;and,
B.If"nosmallpostofficesshallbeclosed",theBerkeleyMainPostOfficeisrequired
toremainopen.
FinalComment:
ThomasJeffersonexhortedus(regardingsuchpubliccrises),to"bind(them)down
frommischiefbythechainsoftheConstitution."Thiswriterremindsthepeopleto
furtherholdthem(thePostal"Service"),totheirCodes,Rules,andRegulations,
whichmustbeinconformancewiththe"ConstitutionfortheUnitedStatesof
America".(Emphasisadded)
Sincerely,
ArthurStopes,III
LinkstoOtherArticlesandWebsites
ThisphotoarchivehasovertwothousandpicturesofNewDealpostofficeart.
Readouremailbulletinaboutthelossofhistoricpostoffices
FormerNNDPAVicePresidentGrayBrechincommentedonthistrendinthisarticle
fortheGuardian
Thisblogatsavethepostoffice.comfocusesonNewDealpostofficesthatare
threatened,alongwiththeartinsidethem.
EleanorRooseveltbiographerandscholarBrigidO'Farrellquestionsthecriticisms
oftheUSPS.
TheLaJolla,Cal.,postofficehasaPWAmuralbyamajorDepression-eraartist,Belle
Baranceanu.Thisarticletellsaboutthemural,theartistandthestruggletosavethe
buildingandmural.
NationalOrganizationsDevotedtoSavingPostOfficesandtheUSPS
ForanoverviewofnewsonpostofficeclosingsandotherissueswiththeUSPostal
Service,SaveThePostOfficeishighlyrecommended.
OurownHarveySmithandGrayBrechinareactivewithNationalPostOffice
Collaborate,whichseekstostopsalesofpostoffices.
NNDPAPresidentSpeaksOutforThreatenedCaliforniaPostOffice
Nov.5,2011
HarveySmithspeaksatarallyprotestingtheclosureoftheVenicepostoffice
NNDPABoardPresidentHarveySmith(below)spokeatarallyNov.5,2011,in
defenseoftheVenicepostoffice,aNewDealedificethreatenedwithclosureand
salebytheU.S.PostalService.
ThelobbyfeaturesamuralofVenicehistorypaintedbyEdwardBibermanin1941
(below).
Venicepostofficemural
IllinoisPostOfficeMuralReturnedToItsHome
PostofficemuralinHerrin,IL:"GeorgeRogersClarkConferswiththeIndiansNear
Herrin,Illinois"
ByDallanWordekemper,NNDPABoardMember
May26,2011
Themuralinthephotoabove,titled“GeorgeRogersClarkConferswiththeIndians
NearHerrin,Illinois”waspaintedbyGustafDalstromandinstalledintheHerrin
postofficeoriginallyonMay27,1940.ItwasrededicatedMay26,2011,aftera47yearabsence.In1964thelobbywasrenovated,andthemuralwasnotedasbeing
destroyedduringtheproject.Theassistantpostmasteratthetime,PaulPopham
(nowdeceased),salvagedthemuralfromthedumpster,however.Asthereseemed
tobelittlecommunityinterestinthemural,Paul'sson,TomPopham,tookthemural
withhimwhenhemovedfromHerrin.Themuraleventuallyfounditwayto
Stillwater,Oklahoma,in1983.In2005theSouthernIllinoisanpublishedanarticle
titled:"MissingPostOfficeMuralProvidesLocalMystery."TomPophamfoundthe
articleonlineandimmediatelyissuedapressreleaseindicatingthemysteryhad
beensolved.Hestillhadthemuralinstorageafteralloftheseyears.OnOctober14,
2008,TomandhiswifedrovethemuralfromOklahomatoParmaConservationin
Chicago.ThemuralwasfacedwithJapanesetissueandBeva371consolidating
adhesivetomaintainthefragileconditionoftheoilpaintingimageasweplannedits
future.ThegoalwastoreturnthemuraltoHerrininthebestpossiblestateof
conservation.
Overtheyears,thePostalServicehasbeenactivelyseekinggrantstoassistinthe
restorationandreturnofthismuraltothecommunity.InJune2010,atmyrequest,
Dr.MaryEmmaThompson,authorandfriend,madeatriptoHerrintovisitwiththe
mayor,VicRitter,theLadiesGroupandotherinterestedgroups.TheLadiesGroup
acceptedthechallengeofthisprojectandweresuccessfulincollectingdonations
thatmadetherededicationpossible.TherestorationawardwasgiventoParma
ConservationinNovember2010.ThemuralwasdeliveredbyParmaConservationa
fewhoursbeforetheMay26dedication,closingthecaseofthemissingmural.
IllinoisPostOfficeMuralSlatedForReinstallation
ThemuralintheGeneva,Ill.,PostOfficewillberemovedforrestoration.Theplanis
forthemuraltobereinstalledoncenewretailspaceinthebuildingiscompletedin
late2011.
(SubmittedbyDallanWordekemper,December2010)