CONGRESSMAN COSTA RALLIES SUPPORT FOR HANFORD POST OFFICE
FRESNO, CA - Today, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-20) led the effort to help relocatethe Hanford Post Office. Representative Costa sent a letter to theDistrict Manager of the United States Postal Service in the hopes that he couldcommunicate the need for a bigger facility to accommodate the city'sgrowth. A city's post office must be able to expand as thecity expands; unfortunately Hanford has grown and the Post Office has notbeen able to increase services accordingly.
Thetext of the letter follows.
Dear District Manager Tovar,
Ms. VirginiaTovar
District Managerof Van Nuys District
United States Postal Service
28201 FrankinParkway
Santa Clarita, CA 91354-9991
Dear District Manager Tovar,
I write today to express my strong support forthe relocation of the Hanford Post Office.
As a member of the Congress, I strive everydayto improve our communities for the people of the San Joaquin Valley. As you know, a city's post office plays a central role in the community,affecting the everyday lives of its residents. This is the case in thegrowing city of Hanford, California, located in the CongressionalDistrict that I am proud to represent. Unfortunately, the size, locationand safety risks of Hanford'scurrent Post Office fail to adequately serve our population.
Four decades have passed since the Hanford PostOffice was built to serve 12,000 people and 5 routes. Since then, thepopulation has reached 50,000 and the Hanford Post Office has expanded to serve32 routes. Strapped for space, the facility was forced to lease an extraparking lot in order to accommodate the increased patronage. In addition,the facility presents a major health risk - the flooring contains asbestos, ahazardous material that can cause lung cancer, threatening the employees andcustomers. The cost of tile removal is estimated to be $90,000.
The conditions of the current Post Office arealready dire. With a population growth rate of 5 percent, I fear thesituation is only further doomed. In light of increasing population andserious health risks, it is clear to me that the Post Office of 1961 can nolonger best serve our community in the 21stcentury.
Hanford's municipal,state, and federal elected officials, downtown organizations, business groupsand citizens have joined together with a solution. In order to bestbenefit the USPS and the residents of Hanford,we propose relocating the Post Office to the former Sears building which nowsits empty in the very heart of Hanford. With adequate space, an ideal location and the owners behind our mission, wehope to move the Post Office to this new location.
The relocation of the Hanford Post Officeoffers a long-term positive impact on our community. Residents willbenefit from a more convenient and less crowded post office. The USPSwill see enhanced productivity in a prime location to conduct business, morecustomer traffic and a healthy spacious work place for employees. Andfinally the community will gain an important contribution to the vitality ofdowntown Hanford. Over the past four decades, the city of Hanfordhas made a concerted and successful effort to enhance its downtown and therelocation of the Hanford Post Office represents an important step in thatongoing revitalization project.
Thank you for your careful consideration onthis important matter. I invite you to participate in a meeting withmyself and other local leaders in order to outline a course of action on how toproceed with the relocation of the Hanford Post Office. Please contact meor my staff member Cheryl Lehn at (559) 495-1620 to organize thismeeting. It is my hope that you join me in my efforts to improve the Central Valley.
Sincerely,
Jim Costa
Member of Congress