More than 85 concerned Waterbury residents came out to voice their support for the Manor Avenue Post office during a meeting at SS. Peter and Paul Church Wednesday night.
The East End Station, better known locally as the Manor Avenue post office, is located at 159 Manor Ave and is being considered for closure by the United States Postal service. Wednesday night’s meeting allowed residents an opportunity to address USPS officials and relay their concerns.
“Tonight, the residents of the East End turned out in force to show support for their post office and they made their case,” Rep. Noujaim said. “More than 85 people came to the meeting, more than 25 spoke eloquently against closure, and I believe the Postal Service officials were impressed with the turnout and devotion to the Manor Avenue location.”
Of the 25 who spoke many echoed the themes of accessibility, safe and easy parking and a feeling of community relating to the people who both use and work at the Manor Avenue location. “Manor Avenue (post office) is my lifeline, everything I need goes there, my prescriptions, social security, letters and bills.” Joe Mastrianni said. “If you take it away from me, everything in my life goes away.”
Ed Bekowski echoed those sentiments when he invoked President Lincoln, telling the crowd that government is of the people, by the people and for the people. “You’re taking away the lifeblood of the community when you start closing post offices,” he said.
Rep. Noujaim told the crowd he would continue to work with Senator Blumenthal, Congressman Murphy and the Waterbury delegation to stop the closure.
Last year, in response to news reports that the Federal Government had undertaken the study to consider shutting several post office branches, including the East End station on Manor Avenue and the full service branch located on Lakewood Road in Waterbury, Rep. Noujaim sent a letter to Senators Joseph Lieberman and Richard Blumenthal and Congressman Chris Murphy asking for their help in preserving Waterbury’s post office branches. Initially, the Manor Avenue post office was scheduled to be closed but strong objections from elected officials, headed by Representative Noujaim, changed the tone of Postal Service officials.
The Lakewood Road branch also serves a portion of Wolcott and if these offices are closed the entire East End, East Mountain and North End sections of Waterbury will be left with no convenient access to a fully functioning post office.
Rep. Noujaim asked the Congressional Delegation to do everything in their power to support the continued operation of Waterbury’s Post Office branches, noting that a city the size of Waterbury would not be adequately serviced by only two locations, one of which has very limited parking.
