South Side Residents Say Post Office is Needed

About 40 residents turned out at to a community meeting at Broughal Middle School Thursday evening .

The 131 W. Fourth St. location is one of about 3,700

Mario DiPatrizio, a senior manager for post office operations in the Central Pennsylvania district, said he didn't know the exact reason the South Side branch landed on the list, but all those being considered earned less than $27,500 in annual revenue, earned less than $600,000 and had five other places to buy stamps within two miles, or earned less than $1 million annually and had five other places to buy stamps within half a mile.

The South Side location did almost $362,000 in walk-in business last year, said the president of the local postal workers’ union, Bernie Ogozalek

Although there is a USPS branch on the north side of the city within one and a half miles of the South Side location, to get there for residents, many of whom do not drive or own cars, would require a bus trip with a transfer. In addition to the added $3 fare cost, a burden to low- and fixed-income residents, the trip would be difficult for the substantial senior population, more than one meeting attendee pointed out.

Additionally, a location that offered abbreviated services wouldn't adequately serve the needs of the community, many said. Money orders, post office boxes and package shipping are all services local residents rely heavily on, Ogozalek said.

Ham Malek, owner of the 131 W. Fourth St. property, said he is particularly disappointed the USPS is considering the closure.

“The rent was negotiated with the understanding that keeping the rent low would raise the chances of keeping the post office,” he said, adding that over 20 years, the rent has only been raised a total of 5 percent.

Malek added that the branch needed to be “run like a business,” saying the USPS only put up a sign announcing the post office's presence last year, and often left the branch short-stocked on regular items, such as stamps, forcing him to get them at one of the three north side locations instead.

Di Patrizio countered the shortages were internal stock management issues within the branch than needed addressing or one-off problems, but others said they'd run into the same issue.

“We were sent to the other facility, so that affects sales,” said one resident.

“That brings up the point that the (other locations on the north side of the city) are that close,” said DiPatrizio.

But if the South Side location were to close, the nearly 300 residents with post office boxes would be forced to take two buses just to pick up their mail.

One of those against the change is a long-term box holder, the South Bethlehem Historical Society.

Speaking for the organization, Dana Grubb said, “We want our box on the South Side, and we want this facility in the South Side.”

Grubb said it was “discriminatory” to close the only South Side location and leave three on the north side of the city.

“I hope this isn't a done deal. That would be very disappointing, to find this is some sort of charade,” he said.

Grubb, along with Ogozalek, and Roger Hudak, chairman of Mayor John Callahan's South Side Task Force, added the revitalization and redevelopment set for the district will only add to the need for a post office in the neighborhood, as well as add to the branch's bottom line in the near future.

“South Side has always been the ugly child of Bethlehem,” Hudak said. “No more. South Side is going to grow, you'll see. The mayor is very much in favor of keeping this post office.”

Hudak urged the audience and residents to make their opinions known and keep up pressure to keep the post office open.

“E-mail Charlie Dent's office, e-mail your senators,” Hudak said, adding that letters to the USPS on the matter must be received by Oct. 17. “This is what it's going to take, so get your pens out and start writing. The people of South Side Bethlehem deserve the same postal service as everyone else in Bethlehem.”