ATLANTA — Georgia congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle are demanding action related to ongoing mail delivery issues in metro Atlanta.
On Thursday, two separate letters were sent out regarding the breakdown happening at the new Atlanta Regional Processing and Distribution Center in Palmetto.
Effort from Democrats
This first came from Rep. Nikema Williams, along with Georgia congressional Democrats including Rep. Lucy McBath, Rep. Hank Johnson and Rep. David Scott, who reached out to the United States Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy.
“We understand and appreciate the value the United States Postal Service (USPS) and postal workers bring to everyday Georgians. However, as Members of Congress, we also have an obligation to deliver for our constituents. The numerous disruptions to mail deliveries impact many of our constituents who depend on USPS for their bills, paychecks and in some cases, life-saving medications and they must be remedied.
Williams went on the request the following questions be answered:
1) What update, if any, can you provide regarding the aforementioned issues at the Atlanta Regional Processing and Distribution Center in Palmetto, including what may be the source of delays, and what actions are being taken to remedy any issues?
2) How is USPS currently communicating with customers in the metro Atlanta area reporting delayed and lost packages?
3) What resources are being made available to customers who have reported delayed packages, or customers who have lost or untraceable packages?”
Effort from Republicans
Rep. Andrew Clyde also sent his own letter to U.S. Postal Service Inspector General Tammy Hull, requesting that she perform an audit to investigate the issues in Atlanta.
“The recent transition and consolidation of North Georgia’s more localized PDCs into the one regional Atlanta GA RPDC and USPS’ poor planning for this transition has extensively disrupted mail delivery operations in the region, causing my constituents immense trouble and grief in their everyday lives.”
Clyde went on to call the current mail delivery situation "completely unacceptable." He added:
“It is clear that USPS must immediately divert resources to the region to prevent the ongoing suffering of my constituents. Furthermore, it is clear that USPS’ poor planning for the transition and consolidation of operations into the Palmetto facility is to blame for the extensive mail delays seen across the North Georgia region. As a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, which provides extensive federal funds to the Postal Service Fund each fiscal year, I am demanding accountability and answers for the residents of North Georgia who continue to suffer every day due to USPS’ incompetent transition and consolidation plan for the Palmetto facility.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Office of Inspector General said they had received the letter and are familiar with the complaints.
"In Mid-March we began our fieldwork. Our objective was to assess the operational impacts related to the launch of the Regional Processing and Distribution Center (RPDC) and identify successes, lessons learned, and opportunities," the statement reads. "Our review will include the Atlanta RPDC and the annex located at 1625 Oakley industrial Blvd., Palmetto, GA. We anticipate issuing our audit report in late summer."
How we got here
Since our initial reports, more than 1,000 viewers have reached out, seeking answers and sharing their experiences lately when it comes to the United States Postal Service and the metro's new Regional Processing & Distribution Center (RP&DC) facility in Palmetto.
The RP&DC facility, which opened on February 24, was opened to consolidate some services from four existing centers to Palmetto, marking one of the first facilities of this type to open in the U.S. The move part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's 10-year 'Delivering for America' plan, a $40 billion investment meant to modernize mail operations - and save money.
But instead, customer frustration followed the opening of the facility. Long lines of trucks were spotted along the highway and complaints centered on packages and mail stuck inside, prompting 11Alive and members of Congress to push for answers from USPS.
What other Georgia leaders are saying
The letters sent on Thursday are the latest call by state leaders to resolve the issue.
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock, Rep. Mike Collins, and Rep. Barry Loudermilk issued their own statements within the last several weeks.
You can view their responses here.
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