RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond-area business owners and residents met with two elected officials Friday as the U.S. Postal Service continues refusing to cooperate to resolve mounting mail problems.
Richmond-area officials have been hearing a lot of “no” form the postal service, which has refused to participate in several town halls planned over the course of the last several months to talk about ongoing mail delivery issues.
U.S. Senator Tim Kaine is the latest official to push for answers from the postal service, this time hoping to get a tour of its Sandston Distribution Center in Henrico County. The answer to that request was no, yet again.
“You lose confidence,” said Kaine about his experience trying to address the problems. “You feel like waiting is probably going to get worse, not better. And we hope that’s not the case.”
After this latest rejection from the postal service, Kaine and Commonwealth’s Attorney Collette McEachin, who has also been pressing for answers the last few months, held a discussion to hear from locals about what they’ve been experiencing.
“I’ve called several dozen times. Not once has anyone ever actually answered the phone. I’ve left messages. Not once has anyone ever returned my message,” said Northside resident Mike Nolan.
Both Kaine and McEachin say they’re still hoping to get answers for residents but admit it will be tough without cooperation from the postal service.
“We shouldn’t have to do this; Commonwealth’s Attorney shouldn’t have to do this. U.S. Senators shouldn’t have to do it,” said Kaine. “If we don’t ratchet up public attention to these problems, we’re not going to get the answers.”
McEachin said she and her office will continue to push for answers from the postal service as the issues continue.
“Right now, the postal service in Richmond is broken,” said McEachin.
