Stockton: change it’s on the mail

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Stockton, CA / Bilingual Weekly

Over a hundred stakeholders gathered on the evening of Friday, January 21, 2011, to listen and comment about the likely closure of the U.S. Postal Service’s Stockton Processing and Distribution Center located on Arch Road by the Stockton Metropolitan Airport.

The open meeting —held at the Oak Park Community Center— attracted over 120 people.

The closure is part of a USPS plan to reduce spending in a time when public budgets are being trimmed and people have turned to electronic means of communication.

As a result, an Area Mail Processing (AMP) study was initiated to evaluate the transfer of mail processing from the Stockton Center to the Processing and Distribution Centers in Sacramento and Fresno. The initial results of the study support the business case for consolidation; however, during its development, it was proposed that all operations be moved to only the Sacramento facility.

Most of the people who stood to the microphone questioned how smart was to send a letter from east to west Stockton going through Sacramento. Yet, it seems the idea is not necessarily saving mileage or a day’s time on delivery, but jobs and rental space.

According to numbers provided by USPS, the transfer promises annual savings of approximately $1.1 million, it will trim 24 Stockton jobs, with everything else: business and discounted presort mail acceptance, collection, etc, will continue as is.

This study —currently in review at United States Postal Service Headquarters and its Area Office— is subject to change, said USPS Sacramento District Manager Bill Hodson at the open meeting, adding the public’s input will be considered prior to a final decision.

The USPS will be accepting additional, written public comments up to February 7, 2011 and may be mailed to the following address:

Consumer Affairs Manager
Sacramento District
3775 Industrial Blvd.
West Sacramento, CA 95799-0070