Politics & Government

Mayor 'Not Optimistic' About Appeal to Save Post Office

Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates said Wednesday he's not optimistic about his appeal to the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission to block the planned sale of Berkeley's historic Post Office but that he's still "fighting every step of the way."

Mayor Tom Bates said today, Wednesday, that he's "not optimistic" about his appeal to block the planned sale of Berkeley's historic downtown Post Office but that he's still "fighting every step of the way," according to Bay City News Service.

Bates' office announced Monday that the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission has agreed to hear his appeal of the sale of the century-old structure that is one of the defining buildings of Berkeley's downtown.

But today he said the U.S. Postal Service asserts that the Postal Regulatory Commission lacks authority to hear Bates' appeal because the postal service is merely relocating its Berkeley operation not discontinuing it, Bay City News reported.

"I'm not optimistic," Bates was quoting as saying, referring to the failure of similar appeals to save post offices. At the same time, he said, "We're fighting every step of the way."

The Postal Service has been selling its large old post offices and transferring its dwindling operations to smaller spaces as a way to reduce its financial losses. It decided this spring to proceed with the sale of Berkeley Post Office, despite strong local opposition.

The Berkeley City Council and the California State Legislature have passed resolutions calling for the sale to be halted, and Bates helped organize a campaign with other cities to save their traditional post office buildings.

If his appeal isn't granted, Bates said, Berkeley will file suit demanding that the Postal Service conduct an environmental impact review of the proposed sale, according to Bay City News.


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