What's Next for Berkeley's Main Post Office

A New Phase in the Fight to Save Our Post Office

Window in disrepair at Berkeley's landmarked Main Post Office. Photo credit: Kristopher Skinner/ Bay Area News Group

Berkeley made history by going to court and stopping the Postal Service from selling our Downtown Post Office. Our community's work isn’t over—the Postal Service may try again to sell the building. We need to get full postal services back. And the Postal Service must restore the building to the good physical condition that it deserves.

Return Services and Save Money
As part of the “relocation” process Berkeley residents who live near the Main Post Office and miss a package delivery now have to go to the station on San Pablo. This is inconvenient and wastes their time and (sometimes) fuel.  Downtown Berkeley needs a bulk mail drop off. Traveling out to Eighth Street is a waste of time for downtown businesses and organizations.  The wait time at the service windows often exceeds thirty minutes.

Bring the Carriers Back
At the hearing in September of 2012, the Postal Service presentation showed that moving carriers out of the Main Post Office would result in additional labor costs of $106,000 each year and additional transportation costs of $36,000 each year. If the Postal Service had moved out of the building, these costs would have been offset by reduced maintenance and utility costs. But the Postal Service is staying, so save money and bring the carriers back.
September 2012 USPS Presentation (excerpt)

Hey USPS! Release the Structural Report!

Berkeley wrote a check to the USPS for $847.55 to cover clerical and copying costs back in December. But the Postal Service still won't release the documents.

Back when Hudson McDonald was in contract to buy 2000 Allston Way, they commissioned a structural report. Hudson McDonald was contractually required to provide a copy to the Postal Service and also bound to confidentiality. The Postal Service refuses to release the report. We use the building. We have a right to know its condition.

Click for a copy of the court record.
The record shows how the Postal Service stonewalled the requests from Berkeley and our City Attorney, Zach Cowan.

Excess Space? Lease it out.

We understand that 2000 Allston Way has more space than the Postal Service is currently able to efficiently use. The Postal Service’s Inspector General is currently assessing how the Postal Service can make the most efficient use of unused space. We believe that in seeking tenants for unused space at 2000 Allston Way, the Postal Service should select tenants who are able to both provide income to the Postal Service and to honor and enhance the public function of the building.

An analysis by the Inspector General found that offering increased financial services (Postal Banking) will increase Postal Service revenue. 2000 Allston Way is a superb location for a Postal Banking pilot program.