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Quigley Meets with Postmaster General Brennan Following Inquiries About Poor Mail Delivery Service in Chicago

January 17, 2019

WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) met with Postmaster General Megan Brennan as a follow-up from previous phone calls and letters about rampant mail delivery issues in Illinois' Fifth District.

"For over a year, my district office has received countless complaints about delayed, unreliable, or non-existent mail delivery service," said Rep. Quigley. "The stories I hear from my constituents are both disturbing and unacceptable, as every American deserves dependable access to their mail. Following several calls and letters, I was pleased to sit down with Postmaster General Brennan for a face-to-face conversation on the ways her team is working to improve efficiency in urban markets. In particular, I raised serious concerns about the Postal Service's lack of communication with residents and encouraged them to adopt a more customer-service focused process. Additionally, I pressed the Postmaster General on the inconsistency surrounding management changes and the erratic use of auxiliary routes."

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"While I believe much more work remains, as well as continued communication and monitoring, I was encouraged by a few of the updates she provided me and my staff," Rep. Quigley said. "She informed us that the Chicago Postal Service has added nearly 100 staff members to assist in delivery, is working to improve data collection and structural operational reforms, and will look into improving the district's auxiliary routes during the next annual inspection, which is set to take place in March or April."

In October, Rep. Quigley sent a letter to Postmaster General Megan Brennan asking for answers on the Postal Service's persistent issues delivering mail throughout Illinois' Fifth District. The letter was a follow-up to a phone call between Rep. Quigley and Postmaster General Brennan on August 10, 2018 to discuss and address the many complaints of poor delivery service. Read the full letter here.

Complaints from constituents—particularly in the Lakeview neighborhood and the entire Northwest side of Chicago—have come into the district office criticizing USPS for delivering mail to incorrect addresses, arriving damaged, or not arriving for days at a time. In response, Rep. Quigley secured language in the FY19 Financial Services and General Government funding bill that will require staffing level reports from USPS, as well as a plan to deliver better service in the future.

Below are a few of the service issues that have been reported:

  • Mail is delivered to incorrect addresses, which leads to missing mail.
  • Mail arrives damaged at their destination.
  • Mail carriers are not placing mail in the mailbox. Instead, they leave it on the porch in the open for anyone to take.
  • In cases where carriers place mail in the mailbox, they do not lock it.
  • Numerous blocks do not receive mail for several days or is delivered during very late hours. Lakeview, Portage Park, and Jefferson Park residents are most affected.
  • In cases of snowstorms, which is a common occurrence in Chicago, my constituents go several days or weeks without receiving mail.
  • Postal boxes are removed for major city events like the Chicago Marathon and Pride Parade in about two days but take nearly four months for the USPS to replace them.