Both concerned community members and local politicians came out to present grievances to members of the United Stated Postal Service on the proposed closing of the Scotia Post office on Nov. 5 at 6 p.m at the Scotia-Glenville Middle School at 10 Prestige Parkway, Scotia.
The post office, which was originally constructed as a part of Franklin Delanor Roosevelt’s New Deal in 1940, has been targeted for closing as a part of the US Postal Service’s efforts to consolidate post offices across the Capital District. If the Scotia branch closes, the Glenville and Schenectady branches will be the only other offices in the area, which could also be inaccessible to those in the community who do not have access to transportation and rely on walking to the post office.
Local community members presented comments on the proposed closure to USPS Schenectady customer relations manager, Margaret Pepe; operations support manager Dennis Loehner and acting postmaster of Schenectady Mary Madonna.
It’s a small town, it’s a village, it’s what made America strong, said Scotia resident John Eldridge, who has been a resident of the area since 1976. `The village of Scotia is what America used to be. The post office is important to keep the community together.`
`The association of the blind taught me how to use my cane,` said Nelson Austin, a 75 year residence of Scotia who has been blind for the past 15 years. `I’m able to find the post office. It’s the center of our village and Mohawk Ave. Without it we’re going to be lost and from a handicap point of view it would be detrimental to the community of Scotia. If it was taken away, I would have nowhere to go`
Local business owners and residents pointed out how the post office is not only key to the image of the community, but also represent the character of those living in Scotia. Townsfolk stated that Scotia is considered a `walking town,` or a community that walks around their downtown, often in their comments to the members of the USPS on hand. Community members spoke about how the Scotia post office is used daily by the elderly, local businesses and the only post office in the area for some in the town who are unable to drive to other post offices in Glenville and Rotterdam.
Dominick Macherone, a resident of Scotia who works with the New York State Chiefs of Police, spoke to how the post office helps to present the whole package of a community. Macherone also stated that there are other towns in the state that do not have the same services as Scotia.
`We have it all,` he said, `a vibrant village with great parks and services, you have a complete package. There are so many different communities in this state that wish they had all the components like Scotia. The post office is an anchor. If it were to be lost it would damage the community. 12302, that’s Scotia’s zip code. It’s our identity.`
Schenectady County Legislature Susan Savage spoke early on in the meeting, `The Scotia post office provides a valuable service to the residents of the village, and helps to create a walk able community,` she said in a statement. `It is so vitally important for the village post office to remain open, especially for our elderly residents. This branch has provided a valued and vital service to our older residents as well as those without transportation or who prefer not to drive.`
Members of the Schenectady County Branch of the USPS said that they would take all comments into consideration in regards to the closing of the Scotia post office and other offices in the area.
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