Ricci Roberts, the branch president of the Cheyenne mail handling unit, is confident that the public’s outcry over the downgrade of Cheyenne’s mail service is starting to make an impact.
The U.S. Postal Service recently made a proposal to restructure the mail processing in Cheyenne. Under this plan, Cheyenne’s mail processing and distribution center would be downgraded, and the work would be moved to Denver. However, Cheyenne would still continue to operate as a local processing unit, albeit not as its own distribution center. Additionally, similar changes are expected in the future for Casper, with the mail processing being shifted to Billings.
Despite the fact that the Cowboy State is experiencing growth with new businesses emerging across the state and a multibillion-dollar upgrade of nuclear missiles overseen by F.E. Warren Air Force Base, the changes would result in the absence of a processing and distribution center.
According to a Facebook post by Roberts, the public’s efforts have been incredibly instrumental and helpful, which has caught the attention of several Wyoming officials.
Roberts shared copies of letters that were sent to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, expressing concerns about the proposal to shut down the Cheyenne Processing and Distribution Center. The plan also includes the closure of the Casper facility by 2025, which would result in Wyoming depending on other states for a significant portion of its mail processing.
According to Governor Mark Gordon, the consequence of this situation is that any mail sent from a local zip code will have to go through processing outside of Wyoming before being returned. This means that a straightforward delivery from Cheyenne to Casper would require an additional stop in either Denver, Colorado, or Billings, Montana.
An Offer To Meet
Gordon has written a letter to DeJoy, urging him to postpone the downgrade of the Cheyenne Processing and Distribution Center to a local processing center (LPC).
According to the author, he wrote that the modernization efforts seem to be causing delays in delivery times in the Cheyenne area. He mentioned that the facilities in Denver, Colorado, which would replace Cheyenne’s P&DC, have not been upgraded yet.
Gordon expressed concerns about the plan to not make any significant upgrades to the Denver processing facility. He compared it to robbing Peter to pay Paul and indicated his willingness to meet with DeJoy to discuss these concerns in more detail.
Governor Gordon emphasized the vital role of the U.S. Postal Service for Wyoming’s rural residents and small businesses. He expressed concern about potential delays impacting small businesses in rural communities, as they rely on timely mail services to stay competitive in the global marketplace. Governor Gordon offered to meet with the officials and their staff to discuss the matter further, requesting more data to ensure that the new plan does not disproportionately affect rural residents.
Wyoming’s Growth Makes This A Bad Time To Cut Services
According to Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming, the changes made by DeJoy seem to overlook the needs of the expanding communities in the Cowboy State.
Wyoming experienced a modest increase in its total population this year compared to last, with a rise of 2,428 individuals, or 0.4% for the fiscal year ending in July 2023. This growth can be attributed to a higher number of births than deaths, as well as a greater influx of people moving into the state compared to those leaving.
Moreover, the state is on the cusp of experiencing further growth. This includes an upcoming enhancement to the Minutemen III Missiles, under the supervision of F.E. Warren Air Force Base. In addition, the state is set to witness the establishment of new data centers and the arrival of new manufacturers.
According to Lummis, Wyoming has already witnessed the outcome of these proposed changes. This was evident when the mail sorting operations in western Wyoming were moved from Rock Springs to Salt Lake City.
According to her, mail services have been greatly affected since then, resulting in significant delays in deliveries, sometimes even extending to weeks.
Lack Of Transparency Alarming
Lummis criticized the Postal Service for its lack of transparency in the process, as it has not provided satisfactory answers to the questions raised by the public.
During a recent forum aimed at gathering public comments, attendees were informed by postal officials that the primary purpose of the forum was to collect feedback, rather than addressing any questions. It is worth noting that no forum has been scheduled specifically for addressing the public’s inquiries at this time.
“I am left with more questions than answers regarding which operations will be transferred to Denver,” expressed Lummis. She further added, “Although the USPS has assured that the plan will not cause any disruptions in services, it remains unclear what data or facts have substantiated this statement.”
Wyoming has a significant number of rural customers who rely on reliable service for essential needs such as medications. Moreover, according to Lummis, the proposed changes will not adequately serve the growing communities in the state.
Wyoming residents should have access to dependable mail service,” Lummis emphasized. “It is the responsibility of USPS to ensure that all customers receive the same quality of service, regardless of whether they reside in rural or urban areas.”
Lummis expressed strong disapproval of the changes, emphasizing the significance of Cheyenne as the capital of the state. She pointed out that Cheyenne’s ZIP codes encompass various important entities, including the F.E. Warren Air Force Base, University of Wyoming, and Cheyenne VA Medical Center. In addition, she highlighted the countless small businesses and families who heavily depend on reliable mail service.
DeJoy was encouraged by Lummis to take these factors into consideration while the postal service continues its facilities review.
Keep Speaking Up
According to Roberts, the letters from Wyoming officials are a source of encouragement, demonstrating that the public’s voices are being acknowledged. She emphasizes the importance of Wyoming residents continuing to express their concerns to lawmakers and postal officials in order to ensure the future of the Postal Service in the state.
Roberts expressed her gratitude and pride towards the community for their advocacy efforts and spreading awareness. In a Facebook post, she emphasized the national significance of the issue and the importance of collaboration. Roberts highlighted the urgency to stop DeJoy’s 10-year plan, which involves reducing services, increasing charges, and negatively impacting rural communities. Despite being a small state, Roberts asserted that they deserve equal treatment and demanded to be recognized as such.
Roberts has been actively gathering more information on the outcomes of similar changes implemented in other states. This data will be compiled and utilized to provide solid evidence in favor of retaining Cheyenne’s processing and distribution center.
According to Cowboy State Daily, the changes have faced challenges in areas such as Minnesota and San Antonio.
Roberts shared that there was a city in Minnesota that experienced a whole week without receiving any letters.
Lawmakers in Minnesota have initiated an investigation into mail delivery failures, as reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Jake Williams, a Wyoming postal customer, recently emailed Cowboy State Daily to provide an example of the potential delays that Wyoming postal customers may face under the new proposal.
On December 8, he sent out two certified letters – one to Denver and another to Tampa Bay, Florida.
“It’s ironic that Tampa received their letter on December 15th while Denver’s is still delayed,” he remarked. “I wanted to highlight the fact that the Post Office is gaslighting the public.”
According to the screenshots, the Tampa letter reached the post office at around noon on December 15th and was labeled as “ready for pickup.” On the other hand, the letter sent to Denver, which was also mailed from Cheyenne, arrived at a Denver Distribution Center on December 9th but was still in transit to the next facility as of December 14th and was expected to arrive late.
