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Congressman Higgins says US Postal Service is hiding study results

Inside William Street Post Office
WBFO News file photo
Inside William Street Post Office

Western New York Congressman Brian Higgins is accusing the United States Postal Service of hiding results of a study it conducted on changing delivery standards and closing some processing centers.

Higgins appeared on the House floor Wednesday saying the Postal Service is keeping the results a secret.  Higgins told his colleagues he learned that the study indicates the Postal Service would actually lose $5 billion.

"For months we have been saying that the cost savings projected by the USPS simply doesn't add up, now the numbers in their own study prove it," said Congressman Higgins.  "This is not a bold plan of reform; it is a recipe for disaster."

The Postal Service plans to shut down the William Street processing center in Buffalo, threatening about 700 local jobs.  

Higgins said the Revenue and Volume Impact Study was commissioned by the USPS.  He said the Postal Service sanctioned a "secret study". 

Higgins said Buffalo is the largest entry point in the U.S. for direct mail from Canada.  Higgins says the proposed changes would result in a 10 to 20-percent reduction in mail volume.  

"Buffalo has been held out as a national standard for efficiency and cost effectiveness by the USPS.  They should be closing that facility, they should be holding it up as a national model," said Higgins.

A May 15 deadline to close some processing facilities has been delayed. 

Higgins has issued a letter to the Postal Regulatory Commission objecting to the proposed changes in service standards.   

"We will continue to put the pressure on," said Higgins.