Grijalva's bill aims to keep mail center in Tucson

CREATED Mar. 8, 2012

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  • U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva has introduced legislation aimed at keeping a Tucson mail center open. The U.S. Postal Service announced, last month, that the Cherrybell Stavenue facility would be one of more than 250 centers nationwide to close. Video by kgun9.com

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Reporter: Corinne Hautala

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) – U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva has introduced legislation aimed at keeping a Tucson mail center open.  The U.S. Postal Service announced, last month, that the Cherrybell Stavenue facility would be one of more than 250 centers nationwide to close.

The bill, H.R. 4161, would require the Postal Service to work with the Department of Commerce, to determine if a closure will negatively impact high-growth areas.

Rep. Grijalva’s spokesperson, Adam Sarvana, said, “The measure would correct an oversight.”

It may not necessarily change the decision by the Postal Service to close a facility, but Sarvana said it is extra information to take into consideration.

“The idea is to make sure that if the Postal Service is going to shutdown a sorting center that it is not going to harm a high-growth area that's only going to get bigger and bigger overtime,” said Sarvana.

Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild supports the legislation.

“I think it's a good bill,” stated Mayor Rothschild. “When we had our conversations with the Post Office Administration we kept asking them, ‘what was your criteria for making these decisions?’"

Mayor Rothschild said through some congressional inquiry, he believes the Postal Service realizes the growth of an area wasn’t considered.

“When you re-work this, Tucson is clearly going off the list, because this is a growth area,” said Mayor Rothschild.

Next, Rep. Grijalva's bill will be referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.