State Elected Officials Urge Postmaster To Reverse Decision To Close Post Office

News release from legislative delegation:

The Bridgeport legislative delegation of State Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox,  Senator Herron Gaston, and state Representatives Steve Stafstrom and Christopher Rosario are asking the United States postmaster general to reconsider his planned closure of the Barnum post office at 2253 Fairfield Avenue in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport, noting that it leaves local residents – especially those residing in the nearby P.T. Barnum apartment complex – with few easy options to access other USPS services in the region.

Local Bridgeport residents were notified by the USPS in mid-December that the Barnum location would be “discontinued” and that they should use post offices at either 357 Commerce Drive in Fairfield or 120 Middle Street in Bridgeport. Each location is 1-2 miles from the Barnum post office; it’s a relatively short drive for those with automobiles but otherwise is a 30-60 minute walk that requires crossing over train tracks or walking under Interstate 95.

The P.T. Barnum public housing complex, comprised of 18 buildings and containing 360 units, is located just two blocks from the Barnum post office.

“Bridgeport is the second-most racially and ethnically diverse community in Connecticut. We are deeply concerned about the disparate impact of closing a post office that forms the cornerstone of such a vital area when we do not see post offices in other areas with more ease of accessibility being closed at the same rate,” legislators wrote Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on December 30. “Additionally, we are concerned that the United States Postal Service made no apparent attempt to communicate news of this possible closure to the Bridgeport community or to municipal, state, or federal elected officials. We do not know what attempts were made to assess the impact of this closure on the community and find the lack of dialogue about this closing to be extremely problematic.”

The letter from the Bridgeport delegation follows a similar letter mailed to DeJoy on December 20 from U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and Congressman Jim Himes. That letter also objected to the sudden closure of the Barnum facility, and it noted that the USPS did not follow proper procedure in informing the public about the pending closure.

“Post offices are a vital resource for communication and must be accessible to all. We hope that the USPS will reconsider its decision,” Sen.-elect Gadkar-Wilcox said.

“The Barnum post office is more than just a place to send and receive mail, it’s a lifeline for this community,” Sen. Gaston said. “For many residents in this area of Bridgeport, it provides essential services that are difficult to access elsewhere, especially for seniors and those without reliable transportation. Closing it would create unnecessary hardships and undermine the stability of a neighborhood that relies on its presence.”

“Limited transportation options are a major daily challenge to residents living in the city that affects access to necessary needs such as health care, food and employment,  Rep. Stafstrom said. “The elimination of vital postal services within reasonable distance of P.T. Barnum and Bridgeport Towers housing complexes and the bus line would add another unnecessary hurdle. Closing this post office branch is ill-advised, and I join my colleague in our united opposition.”

“The closure of the Barnum post office at 2253 Fairfield Avenue, a vital hub in a predominantly working-class community of color, would disproportionately harm residents already facing systemic barriers. It would exacerbate entrenched inequities, limit access to vital services, and stifle economic opportunities,” Rep. Rosario said. “It is never a good idea to decrease access to any services, and I will work with my colleagues to stop this action.”