Revealed: evidence shows huge mail slowdowns after Trump ally took over

[marmar]

(Guardian UK) The United States Postal Service (USPS) saw a severe decline in the rate of on-time delivery of first-class mail after Louis DeJoy took over as postmaster general, according to new data obtained by the Guardian that provides some of the most detailed insight yet into widespread mail delays this summer.

Shortly after taking the helm, DeJoy - a major Republican donor with no prior USPS experience - implemented operational changes he said were intended to make the financially beleaguered agency more efficient. Those changes, which included an effort to get postal trucks to run on time, led to severe delays and widespread public outcry this summer.

In late August, DeJoy announced he was putting the changes on hold until after the election, and last week a federal judge in Washington blocked USPS from implementing them. The changes were clearly aimed at “voter disenfranchisement”, given the increased role USPS will play in this year’s presidential election, the US district judge Stanley Bastian wrote in his ruling.

“It is easy to conclude that the recent Postal Services’ changes is an intentional effort on the part the current Administration to disrupt and challenge the legitimacy of upcoming local, state, and federal elections,” Bastian wrote. ............(more)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/21/usps-post-office-mail-slowdowns-louis-dejoy

[2naSalit]

1. So it wasn't just our imagination...

Cool. I'm glad there are these investigations, documentation is crucial.

[Backseat Driver]

2. Which is why I am doing online Xmas gift shopping in September

Already I have received a notice that there is an enormous "backlog" of packages headed for the US at Customs, and the business wants to extort alternative shipping costs, I'm sure. I had gone with regular ground shipping since it's so far ahead of the Holidays! I really don't want to share my phone #. Should I respond at all and/or with communication ONLY via email - It's an Etsy shop. It's a small and relatively inexpensive gift item.

"Hi
My post office just says that pandemic made a big mess and items are waiting at US customs for a long time. I need your phone number for fedex expedited shipping. Please let me know asap.
Thanks"

SMH

[Wellstone ruled]

3. As per our Mail Carrier,

the major thing that is slowing down the system at this point is the hiring freeze. Most of the Grey Beards knew this single issue was key to DeJoy's wrecking crew.

Postal Workers Union had warned about the massive Retirements that were going to happen in 19' and 20'. Most to the distribution bottle necks could be solved by filling the thousands of vacancies as a result of these retirements.

Several Post Offices Managers are using mandatory overtime in a effort to get even with delivery demands. But,the Personnel are becoming totally burned out and now the Call Outs are creating issues.

[patricia92243]

4. Just mailed a registered letter to a town 200 miles away. They

say it will not be delivered until FRIDAY - 5 DAYS AWAY.

I googled how long it would take a letter from Florida to California (just to see) and it says 2-3 days. I assume this was before the Trump interference.

Scary, scary stuff.