Letter to the Editor...again about Post Offices

   Dear Sentinel:

   Funny that someone from Copperopolis should be commenting about the post office. 


    In 1999 our company opened a business in Copper in which we received a large amount of mail though our POB, some of which had to be stored-the postmaster was annoyed so much that he sent the mail back to the senders (including many checks).

   The same guy was later transferred to Valley Springs where he disturbed many people (including some of the dedicated postal clerks).

   The postmaster in Arnold was also troublesome. His name was Christmas (believe retired). 

   We had a special permit for mailing our journal (produced in CC). Once one of the USPS forms had a slight--very slight--error.

   Instead of him placing in a correct # via the phone he demanded (and held up the mail) until we drove back to Arnold from Stockton.  Makes a lot of sense, eh?

   The postmistresses in Linden was also abusive (to say the least). Her name was White (since retired).

   She antagonized her "permit" businesses by throwing the book of regulations at their face repeatedly--holding up the mail.

   She also harassed other post office employees in various San Joaquin Co. post offices (Clements, Lockeford, Farmington and God knows where else).

   The USPS is way, way behind the times.  They have a rule whreby they can hold the mail up for 3 days for those with bulk mail permits (usually and understandable during the Xmas season rush--which is no longer valid since Xmas card mailings have declined in favor of the www)

   However, they hold it with that 3-day rule arbitrarily now, even though the vol. of mail has declined in the past few years.

   The USPS overnight mail is a big experiment which has failed. FED EX and UPS has their overnight act together.

   The USPS?  Very questionable. We had an overnight package sent through the USPS from Boise, Idaho to Stockton, CA.

    After 2 days an employee at United Airlines called our office to say our "overnight" package was available for pickup at SFO. Hm?

   The USPS added the zip plus 4.  Weird experiment--more #s--more efficiency? Ya right!

   One solution to the problem of incompetence and abusive postmasters and postmistresses (it's not really "postmistresses", but you get the drift) is for a local four-year election.

   The locals would vote for the best candidate for postal manager (and throw the others out),.  The PO is the main business in town (along w/grocery stores and banks) so these elections would get a lot of attention.

   Congressman So and So --get your act together and make this change.  You're up for election in less than 2 years, aren't you?

    Brian Reilly

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