After Foster City’s post office was forced to close in January, city officials are urging the U.S. Postal Service to speed up the process of opening a new one, and in the meantime find a temporary location.
“I have concerns about how a prolonged closure of the post office in Foster City will inconvenience our residents and businesses,” City Manager Kevin Miller said in a press release. “The Foster City post office was heavily used by our residents, particularly seniors and others who rely on postal services in their daily lives.”
The U.S. Postal Service’s Charter Square Shopping Center location closed Jan. 31 because its lease expired and it had to make way for construction of a new elementary school, according to the release.
Foster City residents, meanwhile, have been directed to the post office at 1630 S. Delaware St. in San Mateo.
Ever since the U.S. Postal Service notified Foster City of the impending relocation in 2016, city officials have been working with the postal service as well as the office of U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, San Mateo, to find a new location, but it’s ultimately up to the postal service to make it happen.
“Our residents are frustrated, but what people don’t understand is USPS is a separate government agency,” said Assistant City Manager Dante Hall. “We’re really doing our job to try to work with them for the benefit of the community, but there are certain decisions only they can make — executing a lease, deciding to bring a temporary facility — those are decisions the city can’t make.”
Hall said the city hosted a community meeting with the U.S. Postal Service on the relocation in July, and on Dec. 21, received a letter from the agency expecting to sign a lease by April for a new post office location at 750 Alma Lane.
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“As far as I know that [location] hasn’t changed, but we understand they’re a little behind schedule and don’t have an exact date,” he said, adding that the U.S. Postal Service will likely face a tenant improvements process after a lease is negotiated.
A spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service did not return a call for comment.
As for the prospect of a temporary location, Hall said the city has identified potential sites, but again, the final decision is up to U.S. Postal Service.
“I wouldn’t be comfortable saying with certainty that they’re interested in a temporary location,” Hall said. “They haven’t said no. They mentioned the possibility of a temporary location and we emphatically said yes.”
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