DON GUSTAVSON NEWS RELEASE
Senator Don Gustavson (R-Dist 14), a fiscal conservative who is aware of Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe’s statement last week before a U.S. Senate committee that the U.S. Postal Service “is in the midst of a financial disaster,” is questioning how it came about that the Sun Valley Post Office was chosen to take possible hits. Gustavson said it remains the responsibility of the postal service to serve all communities to the best of its ability.
“The Sun Valley Post Office serves a unique community situated in its own valley with limited access roads coming into and out of the area. Sun Valley has a high population of residents who are disabled, elderly, of low income and many without transportation,” Gustavson said.
Gustavson, who represents Senate District 14, which includes a portion of Sun Valley, said many of his constituents rely on the Sun Valley location to rent post office boxes to securely receive prescription medications. “Closing the Sun Valley Post Office would be a severe hardship for many of the residents who would have to travel to further locations,” he explained.
Gustavson was concerned that little notification has been offered to local Sun Valley residents regarding the potential closure, and is requesting more information regarding the rationale to choose the Sun Valley location over other locations. “I will not argue that the United States Postal Service is losing money due to their inability to operate efficiently, but I would ask that in their quest to get their financial house in order that they do not arbitrarily close any site that would exponentially intensify the harmful impact upon the very constituents who rely heaviest on certain locations.”
Gustavson said that the decision to close down the Sun Valley Post Office is not yet finalized, and is informing his constituents that they are invited to provide written comments before Sept. 29 to Christopher Pearce, 510 W. Mesquite Blvd., Mesquite, NV 89027-9995. An “Optional Comment Form” is available upon request at the Sun Valley, Sparks and Sierra Station branches.
