Postal deliveries
The U.S. Postal Service is facing the most critical period in its history. With the economic downturn and increased diversion to the Internet, mail volumes have dropped drastically. Even as the economy has recovered, mail volume has not returned to previous levels, nor is it expected to.
As a self-supporting government agency that receives no tax dollars for its operating expenses, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage and products and services to generate revenue. In the face of unsustainable deficits due to the unprecedented decline in mail volume and loss of revenue, the Postal Service must seek ways to cut costs and increase operational efficiency.
Recently the Chicago Tribune published a story about a major change the Postal Service has implemented to increase efficiency and respond to declining mail volume (“‘It’s in the mail’ now has more shelf life; Cutbacks, automation slow suburban deliveries, giving peek at what may be ahead,” Page 1, April 23). We have begun using automated equipment known as Flat Sequencing System to sort catalogs, magazines, newspapers and oversize envelopes in the order letter carriers deliver mail on the street. This equipment increases efficiency by cutting the time carriers need to spend in the office sorting mail and allowing them to spend more time delivering mail. As a result, we’ll need to adjust 1,446 delivery routes serving customers in Chicago’s north suburbs.
As the district manager responsible for postal operations in northern Illinois, including Chicago’s north suburbs, as well as most of Wisconsin, let me assure customers in my territory that the Postal Service is committed to making the transition to this new equipment go as smoothly as possible. There is a learning curve associated with mastering the FSS equipment. Our goal is to provide our carries with mail sorted accurately 100 percent of the time so it arrives in the delivery office on time and to prevent equipment jams that may cause damage.
We also plan to have supervisors walk with carriers on routes that have been adjusted by the new sorting equipment to address issues that may impact timely delivery so our customers at the end of the adjusted delivery routes receive their mail by 6 p.m. every day.
As we use the new FSS equipment to sort mail for more cities in the north suburbs, we will notify our customers in advance that the time of day they receive mail delivery may change — some earlier, some later — and that they may receive delivery from a different letter carrier. We will also explain mail may be delivered after 6 p.m. as carriers learn their new routes. However, this should only be temporary as carriers become familiar with their new routes.
— Karen Schenck, district manager, U.S. Postal Service, Milwaukee
Donald diplomacy
If Donald Trump should be elected president of the United States of America, would this do away with diplomacy as we know it?
— Ann Serio, Inverness
Evanston standards
Seriously, the mayor of Evanston is against the Tilted Kilt pub because it violates community standards (News, May 3)? Are those the same community standards that allow live sex shows in the classrooms at Northwestern University? Just wondering.
— Bernie DiMeo, Wilmette
Cubs memories
My mother, a senior citizen, and her friends attended the April 29 Cubs game and are still talking about their experience. They were treated with continued kindness and respect beginning with the group-sales office. The management of the Sheffield Grill attended them during lunch and an usher brought a wheelchair when they were ready to find their seats. They were escorted to the elevator and the usher stayed with them until they were seated. When they needed to leave, they were shown to the exit nearest their bus stop. A young Cubs fan even helped my mother find the right bus.
This is an annual outing for this group of lifelong Cubs fans and they will continue to come to Wrigley as long as they are able. It is because of these dedicated seniors that many of us grew up with the Cubs.
Thank you to the Cubs organization for making this a memorable day.
— Gloria Moyer, Skokie
Gas prices
It’s time the state of Illinois cuts the gasoline tax. It has done this previously when gas prices were high. Gas prices have never been higher.
I assume our politicians won’t suspend the tax entirely, so at least cut the taxes to make the amount we are paying at the pump proportional to a more sane gas price — say $2 per gallon.
— Eli Lazovsky, Skokie
Bagless plan
If Evanston bans paper and plastic bags, what happens when a customer shows up at the grocery checkout with a full cart of items and has brought no bags of any kind? Does the checker insist the customer go back and replace all the items on the shelves? Does the bagger push the cart out to the parking lot and dump everything loose into the trunk of the car? Does the checker offer to sell reusable bags, thus increasing the customer’s bill? Do Evanston stores lose a lot of business to stores in nearby suburbs?
Going green is an admirable goal and politically correct, but has the Evanston City Council really thought this harebrained scheme through?
— Louis B. Raffel, Northbrook
Thank a teacher
Teachers are the first ones to be bad-mouthed and criticized by our government. Did government officials ever stop to think that they would not be where they are today if not for teachers?
Their law and political degrees were given to them because of the learning institutions they attended; they learned from teachers.
They talk about educating our children as a priority in this country, so teachers should be No. 1 among nations.
Then why do they fight us? Instead we should be commended and receive raises and gratitude from all of our fellow constituents who run our country.
Don’t demoralize and downgrade the educators. Boost us and thank us for what we have given of ourselves as educators to be where you are today.
I, as a teacher, deserve this gratitude and thanks.
— Letty Abel, Skokie
