POSTAL WOES CARRY MIXED LOCAL REACTION AGENCY FLOATS PROPOSAL TO CUT SATURDAY DELIVERY THAT UPSETS SOME, BUT DOES NOT BOTHER OTHERS

POSTAL WOES CARRY MIXED LOCAL REACTION AGENCY FLOATS PROPOSAL TO CUT SATURDAY DELIVERY THAT UPSETS SOME, BUT DOES NOT BOTHER OTHERS
From BEACON JOURNAL (AKRON), April 8th, 2001

By Bob Downing, Beacon Journal staff writer Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or [email protected]
CORRECTION: CORRECTION / GETTING IT STRAIGHT: A mix-up in photos occurred
with the story below about local reactions to the U.S. Postal Service studying
the curtailing of Saturday mail delivery as a cost-cutting measure. The photo
on Page B4 should have shown Jesse Johnson of Two Turtles Pet Shop, but
instead depicted Akron Councilman Bob Keith at his Summit Tailoring shop on
West Market Street.
Margie Ranftl of West Akron was dismayed by the thought of no Saturday mail
delivery. "I really look forward to Saturday mail. I love getting mail and I would
miss not getting my mail – even bills – on Saturdays," she said. Ranftl, 42, said she might have been willing to forego mail on Saturdays
when she worked at an Akron advertising firm, but not now as a stay-at-home
mother with her 4-year-old son, Tom. "It's my link to the outside world," said Ranftl, an avid letter writer who
doesn't own a home computer. Her Saturday mail has not disappeared, but it is one option the U.S. Postal
Service is looking at to cut costs. Ending virtually all Saturday deliveries and closing some facilities are
among the cost-cutting steps being studied, said Postmaster General William J.
Henderson. He said the stagnant economy, greater competition and a declining volume of
mail – in part because of the growing use of e-mail – has hit his agency hard.
It faces losses this year of up to $3 billion. Ending delivery on Saturdays would require approval from Congress. That prospect has come under fire from some lawmakers and from the American
Postal Workers Union that represents 366,000 members nationwide. "A decision to curtail Saturday delivery has not been made," Henderson
said. "We have a problem that our customers are saying, 'Don't raise rates.
Don't raise rates.' And we have to look at every possible alternative." This summer, postal managers are expected to ask to boost the price of a
first-class stamp 1 cent to 35 cents. If approved, the change likely would go
into effect next year. Unlike Ranftl, some Akron residents were more than willing to give up
Saturday mail delivery. "It's no big deal to me," said Doug Browning, 74, of Akron. "Most of what I
get are bills anyway. . . . There's nothing that would make a big change in my
life that can't wait one day. And I can certainly go one day without the
advertising and junk mail you get." Chef Frank Aguirre, 41, of Tallmadge, said: "I wouldn't miss it at all. If
I didn't get Saturday mail, I don't think it would affect me or my business." He said he favored raising the price of a first-class stamp to 50 cents –
if the Postal Service would then guarantee no additional price hikes for four
years or longer and no cuts in service. Dr. Fabian Breaux, 58, of Akron, said he would rather cut Saturday mail
delivery than raise stamp prices. "Most businesses do not need such service and I certainly can live without
the junk mail I get," he said, sipping coffee at a sidewalk table on West
Market Street. His wife, Carolynne, said cutting Saturday delivery might be more
acceptable if the Postal Service would guarantee an earlier delivery for
Social Security checks for the elderly and disadvantaged. James White said he would miss Saturday mail delivery. "Saturday is a boring day, and getting mail helps," said the 41-year-old
Akron resident. "It would be bad to change it. Sunday is already boring
enough." The prospect drew mixed reactions from two small businesses. "I wouldn't miss it," said Rodney Kalbus of Highland Square Pharmacy. He said his shop closes at noon on Saturday and the mail generally d
oesn't
get delivered until after the pharmacy is closed. "What's a day matter anyway?" he asked. "It wouldn't have a major impact or
cause major problems, as far as I'm concerned. All I get are bills anyway. . .
. We take six-day mail service for granted, but – from my view – Saturday
delivery is really not necessary." But manager Jesse Johnson said cutting Saturday mail delivery would be a
big blow to Two Turtles Pet Shop. "It's one of our busiest days – with lots of bills and corporate accounts,"
he said. "We have a lot of incoming and outgoing mail on Saturdays. "Losing Saturday mail would have a big impact and it's something we'd
really be opposed to," Johnson said. "We'd be strongly in favor of keeping
it."
Photo 1- Margie Ranftl peeks through the mail slot at her West Akron home. The
42-year-old, who doesn't own a PC, says letters are her link to the world. A
plan to cut Saturday mail delivery is upsetting, she says. / 2- Jesse Johnson,
of Two Turtles Pet Shop, is opposed to cutting mail delivery because the store
receives the most bills on Saturdays.
Copyright (c) 2001, Beacon Journal Publishing Co.BEACON JOURNAL (AKRON), 08th April 2001