Politics & Government

Brookline Post Office Could Be Closed

Brookline branch is one of 3,700 marked for study by United States Postal Service.

The post office is among some 3,700 branches facing possible closure to streamline operations, the United States Postal Service announced Tuesday.

"As more customers choose to conduct their postal business online, on their smartphones and at their favorite shopping destinations, the need for the U.S. Postal Service to maintain its nearly 32,000 retail offices—the largest retail network in the country—diminishes," the Postal Service said in a news release.

Several customers said losing the branch would be a hassle because of its covenient location, even if they understood the Postal Service's reasoning.

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Lance Brant, who had just shipped some items for eBay, said he uses the office a couple of times a week to ship eBay merchandise and packages to family.

“It’s just more convenient to use priority mail and I like this (branch) because it’s so close,” he said.

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Several other customers, all Brookline residents, said the branch is convenient.

“What am I supposed to do, use carrier pigeons or Pony Express?” he said. Williams said he uses the branch a couple of times a week, generally to get and send war movies.

But he acknowledged times are changing and the Postal Service must adapt.

“You’ve got to realize, this isn’t 1950, when there wasn’t email and tweeting and all that other stuff,” said Williams, who boasted he doesn’t own a computer.

Joani Randall said the branch is the only one she uses.

It’s a good location and has convenient parking, she said. Going to the branch in Dormont or Castle Shannon would take her longer, she said.

But JoAnn Likavec said she seldom uses the post office and recognized the need to streamline.

Considering banks have offices in grocery stores, she said it would be convenient if the mail services could be offered in other businesses, as the postal service said is planned.

"Today, more than 35 percent of the Postal Service’s retail revenue comes from expanded access locations such as grocery stores, drug stores, office supply stores, retail chains, self-service kiosks, ATMs and usps.com, open 24/7," said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. "Our customer’s habits have made it clear that they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business."

"By working with third-party retailers, we’re creating easier, more convenient access to our products and services when and where our customers want them,” Donahoe said. “The Village Post Office will offer another way for us to meet our customers’ needs."

A decision to close the branch would not come before December, said Tad Kelly, spokesman for the Postal Service in western Pennsylvania.


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