Edging closer to the precipice, yesterday I noted my trip of the post office, but then didn’t really appreciate the pickle postal workers are currently undergoing, working in a most essential of services and getting sick — last Thursday, 13 postal workers nationwide had tested positive for COVID-19; the next day seven more, now the total has climbed to more than three dozen.
(A sad state as reflected by the image on the left, found here)
Beyond the medical hazards, the USPS might also fall victim to the economics of the coronavirus and like a shitload of other sectors, face a thin-gauged future. Just in time, however — info per Politico last night:
The U.S. Postal Service could be gone by June unless Congress immediately delivers billions of dollars to counteract the impact of the coronavirus crisis, a House committee chairwoman warned Monday night.
“Based on a number of briefings and warnings this week about a critical fall-off in mail across the country, it has become clear that the Postal Service will not survive the summer without immediate help from Congress and the White House,” Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.
Maloney, who was joined in the statement by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), indicated the Postal service has seen a “drastic” reduction in mail volume and could shutter by the summer without intervention, a collapse that could, among other things, jeopardize access to mail-order prescription drugs for millions of Americans, especially in rural communities.A Postal Service shutdown would also affect the ability of voters to cast ballots by mail.
Maloney and Connolly noted the House’s $2.5 trillion coronavirus relief package would send $25 billion to the Postal Service in emergency funding and eliminate the Postal Service’s $11 billion debt.
The measure would reset the Postal Service’s borrowing limit to $15 billion and eliminate an annual $3 billion borrowing cap.
The measure would also require the agency to prioritize medical deliveries.
The House bill would also allow the Postal Service to create “temporary delivery points” and establish flexible staffing procedures if the novel coronavirus affects its operations.
Unless the shithead-in-charge fucks the waters with some idiocy and makes a fearful, terrible situation even worse, then all bets are off. Postal people are staying upbeat (Government Executive yesterday): ‘“We are actively monitoring all aspects of our business operations and functions, and we are highly confident in our ability to process and deliver the nation’s mail and packages throughout this emergency,” said Dave Partenheimer, a USPS spokesman.
“We do not expect disruption or degradation in the services we provide. If, for some reason, we need to curtail operations in a particular facility or area, activation of localized continuity of operations plans will be implemented to provide required support.”‘
Shit getting thick, just waiting on that letter:
Onward we folly…
