Public Comment

The Postal Service Decision to Sell Historic Downtown Berkeley Post Office

By Councilmember Jesse Arreguin
Thursday July 18, 2013 - 09:12:00 PM

I am deeply disappointed to receive news of the final decision of the United States Postal Service to sell the Berkeley Main Post Office. Their decision ignores the will of our community to find a sensible solution, and opts for the easy way out by auctioning off our culture and heritage to the highest bidder. 

Throughout the process they never seriously considered community comments, and arguably deprived the public of the opportunity for additional comment and review by classifying the decision as “Relocation” and not as a “Closure,” which is what it really is. 

Despite statements that the USPS needs to sell the building to address financial challenges, the Postal Service did not adequately consider alternatives to the sale, and ultimately selling a building that USPS already owns in exchange for renting high value commercial space in Downtown is like selling your car for gas. It’s more than short-sighted.