Residents Standup for Local Post Offices

On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that a number of residents within Northern Virginia are doing everything they can to save their local post office.

It was announced last summer that nearly 3,700 post offices might close across the country, including four in Northern Virginia.

Leesburg resident Robert Brown was quoted in the article saying that the figures the USPS used to determine which post offices to close are not correct. He is in full support of keeping the downtown post office at 15 E. Market Street open, which is slated to close due to budget cuts.

Last November, local residents and business owners decried the potential closing of the downtown post office during a public input session held at Rust Library.

Everyone agreed that the Market Street location is worth saving. Not only is it convenient to the downtown business area but it’s a better choice than the nearby Catoctin location, they said.

“From my visits to the Catoctin Post Office it is already over utilized,” Brown said, during last year's meeting. “With the growth here I think this post office is going to be needed.”

On Thursday, March 29, Clerk Rob Edwards said he has received very little information regarding the future of his post office, which he's worked at for 25 years.

"We're told that by May the 15 we're suppossed to know whether this office is going to be closed or open," Edwards said. "After that there's like a three month appeals period. That's about all I know."

Edwards said he thinks the main office, located on Catoctin Circle, is already overcrowded. 

"I don't think they could handle any more business over there," Edwards said. 

Until a decision is made on whether or not to keep the local business Edwards said he is happy to see that so many people believe in the value of the historic downtown business. 

"I'm glad they're showing a big interest in it," Edwards said. "It's important that the people here get behind it and try to keep it open. I'm all for that." 

Visit the Washington Post to read the full article regarding the future of our local post offices. 

Question: What do you think about the possible closure? Tell us in the comments.