Sunday, June 22, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
Post Office going full service
IF the Postal Service again listens to its
patrons, it will send out postcards to
everyone living in ZIP codes 94102, 94103
and 94109 and give them the news: 101 Hyde
is converting to a full-service post office.
What had become a dangerous and almost
useless shell of a building — with reduced
hours and nothing more than 7,989 rental
boxes, 40% of them rented — now will have
all this: two windows where USPS staff will sell
stamps, weigh parcels, handle rental boxes,
serve general delivery patrons, accept applications
for passports. It may even have a place to
send out letters — the drop boxes were
removed from the site early this year.
A coalition of neighborhood
activists was the driving
force behind the change. They
collected 1,000 signatures on a
petition and sent it and a letter
to Postal Service District
Manager Winifred Groux,
cc’ing them to Rep. Nancy
Pelosi and the U.S. postmaster.
They got Super visor Chris Daly
involved as well as TL police
Capt. Gary Jimenez, and spoke
at a supervisors’ Operations
and Neighborhood Services
Committee meeting after holding
a noisy rally in front of the
Golden Gate and Hyde facility.
May 14, USPS sent out a
press release announcing the
people’s victory. “The community
asked us to consider
upgrading . . . to a full-fledged
retail center and we listened,”
Groux was quoted as saying.
Two weeks later, a small
gathering of winners in this
David vs. Goliath contest cut a cake to celebrate.
Renovation of the building will begin
in the next two months, and Rep. Pelosi’s
office wants to host a grand opening.
Somehow, the work’s never quite done:
POP (Post Office Patrons), a group of box
holders that started advocating for better box
services after the ’89 quake closed many
postal facilities, is surveying members, asking
what else they want: mail boxes; stamp
machine in the lobby; first-class mail sorted
into boxes daily; longer lobby hours;
Saturday retail services.
Michael Nulty, POP member and Alliance
for a Better District 6 president, says they’ll
use the survey results as they continue negotiating
with USPS. ■
Michael Nulty
(left) and brother
John Nulty (right)
with POP honoree
Paul Lovinger get
ready to cut the cake
at the post office
victory celebration.
BY MA R J O R I E BEGGS
Post office going full service
TL coalition gets Postal Service to bring back 101 Hyde St.
PHOTO B Y TOM C A R T E R
patrons, it will send out postcards to
everyone living in ZIP codes 94102, 94103
and 94109 and give them the news: 101 Hyde
is converting to a full-service post office.
What had become a dangerous and almost
useless shell of a building — with reduced
hours and nothing more than 7,989 rental
boxes, 40% of them rented — now will have
all this: two windows where USPS staff will sell
stamps, weigh parcels, handle rental boxes,
serve general delivery patrons, accept applications
for passports. It may even have a place to
send out letters — the drop boxes were
removed from the site early this year.
A coalition of neighborhood
activists was the driving
force behind the change. They
collected 1,000 signatures on a
petition and sent it and a letter
to Postal Service District
Manager Winifred Groux,
cc’ing them to Rep. Nancy
Pelosi and the U.S. postmaster.
They got Super visor Chris Daly
involved as well as TL police
Capt. Gary Jimenez, and spoke
at a supervisors’ Operations
and Neighborhood Services
Committee meeting after holding
a noisy rally in front of the
Golden Gate and Hyde facility.
May 14, USPS sent out a
press release announcing the
people’s victory. “The community
asked us to consider
upgrading . . . to a full-fledged
retail center and we listened,”
Groux was quoted as saying.
Two weeks later, a small
gathering of winners in this
David vs. Goliath contest cut a cake to celebrate.
Renovation of the building will begin
in the next two months, and Rep. Pelosi’s
office wants to host a grand opening.
Somehow, the work’s never quite done:
POP (Post Office Patrons), a group of box
holders that started advocating for better box
services after the ’89 quake closed many
postal facilities, is surveying members, asking
what else they want: mail boxes; stamp
machine in the lobby; first-class mail sorted
into boxes daily; longer lobby hours;
Saturday retail services.
Michael Nulty, POP member and Alliance
for a Better District 6 president, says they’ll
use the survey results as they continue negotiating
with USPS. ■
Michael Nulty
(left) and brother
John Nulty (right)
with POP honoree
Paul Lovinger get
ready to cut the cake
at the post office
victory celebration.
BY MA R J O R I E BEGGS
Post office going full service
TL coalition gets Postal Service to bring back 101 Hyde St.
PHOTO B Y TOM C A R T E R
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
POP Celebrate Huge Victory
Photo by BeyondChron
Tenderloin Post Office Patrons Celebrate Huge Victory
by Paul Hogarth‚ May. 28‚ 2008
After a long community struggle to demand that the Tenderloin get a full-service post office, the US Postal Service announced plans on May 14th to expand their bare-bones facility at 101 Hyde. Last night, Post Office Patrons (POP) – a group of P.O. Box holders – gathered to celebrate this victory. For this group of Tenderloin residents, a neighborhood post office is a crucial milestone – after getting evicted from the US Court of Appeals building nearly 20 years ago. For this group of P.O. box patrons, the dignity of having a full-service post office is all that they’ve been asking for.
Until the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989, the ornate US Court of Appeals building at 7th and Mission also housed the City’s Main Post Office – where SRO residents rented P.O. Boxes to receive mail, as well as General Delivery service for homeless people. Daily lobby hours were from 6:00 a.m. to Midnight. But when the court renovated in 1991, the court wanted that space for an exercise facility – kicking out the P.O. Box holders.
The current location at 101 Hyde Street opened up in 1991 – and the Postal Service has slowly downsized its operations over the years. Today, you can’t even send out mail from that facility – and last year they removed the vending machines to buy stamps. All you have now is a series of P.O. Boxes for regular patrons to pick up their mail – while the neighborhood complains that the building is an eyesore and a place for loiterers.
Box-holder Michael Nulty emceed last night’s festivities – where Post Office Patrons, Senior Action Network and the Safety Network received awards in recognition of their work to make this happen. Nulty described the campaign to get a full-service station – with a February 14th hearing at the Board of Supervisors. “We brought Valentines for the Supervisors,” he said, “because our post office wouldn’t let us mail them out.”
“One thing that helped motivate the Post Office,” said Elaine Zamora of the Tenderloin Community Benefits District, “is that we gathered 1,000 signatures in just three months.” She explained the next steps: the Postal Service plans to open the full-service station by the end of the year, and will construct two service counters that will be staffed. Zamora added that she’s looking into grants to pay a muralist to decorate the building’s exterior – provided there are no legal constraints from the Postal Service’s side.
“They’ll have to eliminate some mailboxes to convert the station,” said Zamora. “But only ones that are not currently utilized – so no customers will be affected.”
Federal law signed by President Bush mandates that the Postal Service make a profit on its operations – which affected the decision to expand the facility at 101 Hyde. At last night’s event, one person suggested that to ensure a good market the Postal Service should notify everyone living in the 94102, 94103 and 94109 zip codes by postcard that they’ll be having a full-service post office. “People in the neighborhood won’t use it if you don’t tell them about it,” she said.
When I got home right after the event, I received a free promotion in the mail from the Postal Service's new "Stamp by Mail" program -- where you can mail them a check and have your stamps delivered. The promo even included a "no postage necessary" form to send back. If the Postal Service can afford that, surely they can send out notifications to Tenderloin residents about the new post office.
feedback at beyondchron dot org
Tenderloin Post Office Patrons Celebrate Huge Victory
by Paul Hogarth‚ May. 28‚ 2008
After a long community struggle to demand that the Tenderloin get a full-service post office, the US Postal Service announced plans on May 14th to expand their bare-bones facility at 101 Hyde. Last night, Post Office Patrons (POP) – a group of P.O. Box holders – gathered to celebrate this victory. For this group of Tenderloin residents, a neighborhood post office is a crucial milestone – after getting evicted from the US Court of Appeals building nearly 20 years ago. For this group of P.O. box patrons, the dignity of having a full-service post office is all that they’ve been asking for.
Until the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989, the ornate US Court of Appeals building at 7th and Mission also housed the City’s Main Post Office – where SRO residents rented P.O. Boxes to receive mail, as well as General Delivery service for homeless people. Daily lobby hours were from 6:00 a.m. to Midnight. But when the court renovated in 1991, the court wanted that space for an exercise facility – kicking out the P.O. Box holders.
The current location at 101 Hyde Street opened up in 1991 – and the Postal Service has slowly downsized its operations over the years. Today, you can’t even send out mail from that facility – and last year they removed the vending machines to buy stamps. All you have now is a series of P.O. Boxes for regular patrons to pick up their mail – while the neighborhood complains that the building is an eyesore and a place for loiterers.
Box-holder Michael Nulty emceed last night’s festivities – where Post Office Patrons, Senior Action Network and the Safety Network received awards in recognition of their work to make this happen. Nulty described the campaign to get a full-service station – with a February 14th hearing at the Board of Supervisors. “We brought Valentines for the Supervisors,” he said, “because our post office wouldn’t let us mail them out.”
“One thing that helped motivate the Post Office,” said Elaine Zamora of the Tenderloin Community Benefits District, “is that we gathered 1,000 signatures in just three months.” She explained the next steps: the Postal Service plans to open the full-service station by the end of the year, and will construct two service counters that will be staffed. Zamora added that she’s looking into grants to pay a muralist to decorate the building’s exterior – provided there are no legal constraints from the Postal Service’s side.
“They’ll have to eliminate some mailboxes to convert the station,” said Zamora. “But only ones that are not currently utilized – so no customers will be affected.”
Federal law signed by President Bush mandates that the Postal Service make a profit on its operations – which affected the decision to expand the facility at 101 Hyde. At last night’s event, one person suggested that to ensure a good market the Postal Service should notify everyone living in the 94102, 94103 and 94109 zip codes by postcard that they’ll be having a full-service post office. “People in the neighborhood won’t use it if you don’t tell them about it,” she said.
When I got home right after the event, I received a free promotion in the mail from the Postal Service's new "Stamp by Mail" program -- where you can mail them a check and have your stamps delivered. The promo even included a "no postage necessary" form to send back. If the Postal Service can afford that, surely they can send out notifications to Tenderloin residents about the new post office.
feedback at beyondchron dot org
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
San Francisco Weekly May 21, 2008
Postal employees not happy about working in the Tenderloin
By Joe Eskenazi
Published: May 21, 2008
Subject(s): Joe Eskenazi on Tenderloin post office Life seems so much simpler when you only read press releases. Take the one issued last week by the United States Postal Service. The residents of the Tenderloin wanted their local branch at 101 Hyde to do more than merely housing P.O. boxes and offering general delivery for folks without addresses — and lo, it was done!
"The community asked us to consider upgrading the Civic Center Post Office to a 'full-fledged' retail center, and we listened," district manager Winifred Groux wrote in the release.
Unmentioned was the fact that, earlier this month, Groux told Tenderloin activists she not only wasn't interested in expanding the post office branch — she was also inclined to close the place altogether.
"The postal people said their employees were afraid to be on the site, and they need to pull out," said David Seward, chief financial officer of nearby Hastings College of the Law. "It was a cut-and-run strategy."
Also unmentioned was the fact that Supervisor Chris Daly stormed out of that meeting early, promising to contact the office of Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
Two weeks later the USPS put out its release noting that the community asked for a full-service post office — and it listened. But not so fast.
James Wigdel, the postal service's regional spokesman, said that Pelosi's intervention was not a factor. That's odd: Drew Hammill, her Washington spokesman, told SF Weekly last Tuesday about a series of meetings "with the USPS and local officials" — but he wouldn't divulge more.
"There was definitely some strong-arming going on," said Elaine Zamora, director of the Tenderloin Community Benefits District and leader of the neighborhood's post office petition. "If Nancy Pelosi called me, I'd jump, too."
Whatever the case, Zamora is not about to look a gift post office in the drop box. She's happy, Daly is happy, Pelosi is "pleased," and the USPS says it's all smiles as well. The future employees of the Tenderloin post office? They aren't so happy.
"They used to urinate in there, boo-boo in there — and the janitor's got to clean that up!" one former postal worker at 101 Hyde recalled. "I can deal with it. But I'd rather not go back." Editor's Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that USPS put out its press release a day after Daly stormed of the neighborhood meeting with postal officials.
By Joe Eskenazi
Published: May 21, 2008
Subject(s): Joe Eskenazi on Tenderloin post office Life seems so much simpler when you only read press releases. Take the one issued last week by the United States Postal Service. The residents of the Tenderloin wanted their local branch at 101 Hyde to do more than merely housing P.O. boxes and offering general delivery for folks without addresses — and lo, it was done!
"The community asked us to consider upgrading the Civic Center Post Office to a 'full-fledged' retail center, and we listened," district manager Winifred Groux wrote in the release.
Unmentioned was the fact that, earlier this month, Groux told Tenderloin activists she not only wasn't interested in expanding the post office branch — she was also inclined to close the place altogether.
"The postal people said their employees were afraid to be on the site, and they need to pull out," said David Seward, chief financial officer of nearby Hastings College of the Law. "It was a cut-and-run strategy."
Also unmentioned was the fact that Supervisor Chris Daly stormed out of that meeting early, promising to contact the office of Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
Two weeks later the USPS put out its release noting that the community asked for a full-service post office — and it listened. But not so fast.
James Wigdel, the postal service's regional spokesman, said that Pelosi's intervention was not a factor. That's odd: Drew Hammill, her Washington spokesman, told SF Weekly last Tuesday about a series of meetings "with the USPS and local officials" — but he wouldn't divulge more.
"There was definitely some strong-arming going on," said Elaine Zamora, director of the Tenderloin Community Benefits District and leader of the neighborhood's post office petition. "If Nancy Pelosi called me, I'd jump, too."
Whatever the case, Zamora is not about to look a gift post office in the drop box. She's happy, Daly is happy, Pelosi is "pleased," and the USPS says it's all smiles as well. The future employees of the Tenderloin post office? They aren't so happy.
"They used to urinate in there, boo-boo in there — and the janitor's got to clean that up!" one former postal worker at 101 Hyde recalled. "I can deal with it. But I'd rather not go back." Editor's Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that USPS put out its press release a day after Daly stormed of the neighborhood meeting with postal officials.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
101 Hyde Street Post Office Converting to Full Service
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2008
Contact: James T. Wigdel
415-550-5718
415-205-4708
jwigdel@usps.gov
usps.com/news
Release: SF08-053
Tenderloin Community Post Office Converting to Full Service Unit
U.S. Postal Service Civic Center Station to Offer Mailing and Shipping Services
SAN FRANCISCO — The Post Office located at 101 Hyde St. will soon sell more than P.O. Boxes and service the General Delivery community. The U.S. Postal Service announced today that it is moving forward with plans to expand service at the Civic Center Post Office to include all Postal retail services.
“The community asked us to consider upgrading the Civic Center Post Office to a ‘full fledged’ retail center and we listened,” said Winifred G. Groux, Postal Service district manager for San Francisco. “After exploring all of our options, including consolidating several offices into one, upgrading the Civic Center Post Office makes the most sense for the community and the Postal Service.”
The Postal Service is in the early stages of discussion with its Facilities group and the land lord to determine the best course of action to begin the upgrade; however no timeline has yet been established. “We want to move as quickly as possible,” Groux said.
Several factors went into the decision to upgrade the Civic Center. Among them was the Postal Enhancement and Accountability Act of 2006, which mandates the Postal Service to be profitable. The law also gives the Postal Service more flexibility in how it offers its products, such as Express and Priority Mail, so upgrading the Civic Center gives the Postal Service an opportunity to offer its products closer to the community.
“We also received a good deal of information from the community,” Groux said. In particular, Elaine Zamora, district manager of the North of Market Tenderloin Community Benefit District, provided relevant information about community growth that has and will take place in the Tenderloin area. This solidified the business decision to go forward with upgrading the Civic Center Post Office.
Groux said she appreciates the input from the community and the assistance of San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly’s office, which facilitated discussions between the Postal Service and the community.
-30-
An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation – 146 million homes and businesses. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.
May 14, 2008
Contact: James T. Wigdel
415-550-5718
415-205-4708
jwigdel@usps.gov
usps.com/news
Release: SF08-053
Tenderloin Community Post Office Converting to Full Service Unit
U.S. Postal Service Civic Center Station to Offer Mailing and Shipping Services
SAN FRANCISCO — The Post Office located at 101 Hyde St. will soon sell more than P.O. Boxes and service the General Delivery community. The U.S. Postal Service announced today that it is moving forward with plans to expand service at the Civic Center Post Office to include all Postal retail services.
“The community asked us to consider upgrading the Civic Center Post Office to a ‘full fledged’ retail center and we listened,” said Winifred G. Groux, Postal Service district manager for San Francisco. “After exploring all of our options, including consolidating several offices into one, upgrading the Civic Center Post Office makes the most sense for the community and the Postal Service.”
The Postal Service is in the early stages of discussion with its Facilities group and the land lord to determine the best course of action to begin the upgrade; however no timeline has yet been established. “We want to move as quickly as possible,” Groux said.
Several factors went into the decision to upgrade the Civic Center. Among them was the Postal Enhancement and Accountability Act of 2006, which mandates the Postal Service to be profitable. The law also gives the Postal Service more flexibility in how it offers its products, such as Express and Priority Mail, so upgrading the Civic Center gives the Postal Service an opportunity to offer its products closer to the community.
“We also received a good deal of information from the community,” Groux said. In particular, Elaine Zamora, district manager of the North of Market Tenderloin Community Benefit District, provided relevant information about community growth that has and will take place in the Tenderloin area. This solidified the business decision to go forward with upgrading the Civic Center Post Office.
Groux said she appreciates the input from the community and the assistance of San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly’s office, which facilitated discussions between the Postal Service and the community.
-30-
An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation – 146 million homes and businesses. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Post Office Patrons Hearing
Please support the TNT efforts to get the United States Postal Service
to turn 101 Hyde Street (at Golden Gate) into a full service facility.
Supervisor Chris Daly's Office informs me there is to be a hearing at
City Hall in Room 253 on Thursday February 14th at 1 PM regarding this
community concern. This is an important issue towards the improvement
of our neighborhood. I hope many of you will join the TNT in voicing our
community's concern in this matter. If you want further information on
this please contact our District's Community Organizer for Safety
Network Partnership, Dina Hilliard, phone #(415) l538-8100 extension
#204.
to turn 101 Hyde Street (at Golden Gate) into a full service facility.
Supervisor Chris Daly's Office informs me there is to be a hearing at
City Hall in Room 253 on Thursday February 14th at 1 PM regarding this
community concern. This is an important issue towards the improvement
of our neighborhood. I hope many of you will join the TNT in voicing our
community's concern in this matter. If you want further information on
this please contact our District's Community Organizer for Safety
Network Partnership, Dina Hilliard, phone #(415) l538-8100 extension
#204.
Hearing February 14, 2008 for 101 Hyde for Post Office Patrons
Board of Supervisors Committee Hearing
on Tenderloin effort for a
Full Service Post Office at 101 Hyde
Before the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee
When: Thursday, February 14, 2008
Rally at Noon at 101 Hyde march to City Hall
Hearing at 1:00 p.m.
Where: City Hall, Room 263
This is your opportunity to speak on the
importance of a safe and functional Full
Service Post Office for the neighborhood
An effort of TNT-The New Tenderloin
For information contact Elaine Zamora at 440-7570 ext. 21 ezamora@sbcglobal.net
on Tenderloin effort for a
Full Service Post Office at 101 Hyde
Before the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee
When: Thursday, February 14, 2008
Rally at Noon at 101 Hyde march to City Hall
Hearing at 1:00 p.m.
Where: City Hall, Room 263
This is your opportunity to speak on the
importance of a safe and functional Full
Service Post Office for the neighborhood
An effort of TNT-The New Tenderloin
For information contact Elaine Zamora at 440-7570 ext. 21 ezamora@sbcglobal.net
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The Post Office at Golden Gate & Hyde
The Post Office at Golden Gate & Hyde
Community Opposes Federally-Funded Crime Zone
by Jesse Nathan‚ Dec. 13‚ 2007
For years, the corner of Hyde and Golden Gate, site of a minimum-service post office, has been an uninhibited trafficking point for drugs—not to mention a congregating stop for various unseemly, even dangerous denizens. It’s for this reason, explains a press release put out this week by a coalition of neighborhood organizations that “Tenderloin merchants and residents will hold a press conference at the Post Office…to demand that the federal government stop allowing criminal activities at the site.” The coalition, including Hastings College of Law, The New Tenderloin, the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation, the Chinatown Community Development Center, the YMCA, the Safety Network and the North of Market Community Benefit District, plans to hold the press conference today, December 13, at noon.
The problem, argues Elaine Zamora, head of the Community Benefit District, is that the Post Office—and consequently the corner generally, since the building occupies a huge chunk of the block—“is poorly secured, has huge windowless walls, and is understaffed.” In turn, this means the site is ripe for drug dealers, many of whom feel comfortable enough to do their business in broad daylight—with their backs safely against the windowless walls of the Post Office building. “Drug dealing,” says the press release, “is a daily occurrence” around the perimeter of the building—and one need only walk by at any odd hour of the day to confirm this. Men in stocking caps or ballcaps with the brims pulled low will casually toss out their offers to passersby who seem like likely drug-purchasing candidates.
But it’s not just drug dealing that’s driven these community organizations to action. Safety, too, has become a serious concern. David Seward of Hastings College of Law wrote the Postal Service and the office of Nancy Pelosi late this summer detailing a nightmarish experience one of Hastings’ students had had in the Post Office. According to Seward, the student—a woman—was accosted by a man near the corner of Golden Gate and Hyde. She was able to escape and fled into the Post Office—thinking it a safe, federally-funded space. She was wrong, says Seward. Instead of finding safety, she found a nearly deserted warren of rooms (the building is staffed by one or two workers at most who operate behind a gated window in the far corner of the office). With no one around, she was all but cornered—and only managed to escape, says Seward, by way of good luck and a quick dash for the doors.
What’s more, the Tenderloin—which is a neighborhood, says the Tenderloin Housing Clinic’s Randy Shaw, that’s trying to grow into a healthy, clean community—does not as of now have a full service Post Office. The building on the corner of Golden Gate and Hyde has only postal boxes and a window for mailings and postage. There is of course the Federal Building down the street, but to enter one must submit to a series of searches—all just to send a few holiday packages. Most disturbing, says Alysabeth Alexander, a community activist with La Voz Latina, Hispanic residents of the Tenderloin—especially those with less than secure status in this country—almost always feel too intimidated by the prospect of entering the Federal Building. For them, there is no postal service in the Tenderloin—and many of them will be trekking blocks and blocks, to the Mission, to Market, to send their mail this Christmastime.
As opposed to so many of the social problems that plague San Francisco, solving this one seems relatively easy—all that’s required, says Zamora, is a little political muscle to convince the Postal Service that it’s time to quit federally funding a crime zone and convert the Post Office to a full-service station. “A full service post office will increase citizen traffic and commerce and improve security on the corner dramatically,” she says. “The Tenderloin is a residential neighborhood that deserves a full-service post office.” The press release further implies solutions by pointing out that the building’s structure itself is part of the problem: “[The Post Office’s] concrete walls create a perfect screen for drug dealing on the sidewalk, a problem that could be reduced with the installation of additional windows.” Or, suggests the news release, “additional staff”—security personnel for instance—could also help keep drug trafficking and danger to a minimum.
The best solution, however, says box-holder Michael Nulty, is for the federal government to convert the station to the full-service outlet the community deserves: “Postal Patrons want retail services along with safe facility to enhance our community 18 years in the making.” To Nulty and to those who’ve organize the press conference—and who demand action from the federal government on this matter—converting the post office to a full-service station is a “win-win” solution.
Community Opposes Federally-Funded Crime Zone
by Jesse Nathan‚ Dec. 13‚ 2007
For years, the corner of Hyde and Golden Gate, site of a minimum-service post office, has been an uninhibited trafficking point for drugs—not to mention a congregating stop for various unseemly, even dangerous denizens. It’s for this reason, explains a press release put out this week by a coalition of neighborhood organizations that “Tenderloin merchants and residents will hold a press conference at the Post Office…to demand that the federal government stop allowing criminal activities at the site.” The coalition, including Hastings College of Law, The New Tenderloin, the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation, the Chinatown Community Development Center, the YMCA, the Safety Network and the North of Market Community Benefit District, plans to hold the press conference today, December 13, at noon.
The problem, argues Elaine Zamora, head of the Community Benefit District, is that the Post Office—and consequently the corner generally, since the building occupies a huge chunk of the block—“is poorly secured, has huge windowless walls, and is understaffed.” In turn, this means the site is ripe for drug dealers, many of whom feel comfortable enough to do their business in broad daylight—with their backs safely against the windowless walls of the Post Office building. “Drug dealing,” says the press release, “is a daily occurrence” around the perimeter of the building—and one need only walk by at any odd hour of the day to confirm this. Men in stocking caps or ballcaps with the brims pulled low will casually toss out their offers to passersby who seem like likely drug-purchasing candidates.
But it’s not just drug dealing that’s driven these community organizations to action. Safety, too, has become a serious concern. David Seward of Hastings College of Law wrote the Postal Service and the office of Nancy Pelosi late this summer detailing a nightmarish experience one of Hastings’ students had had in the Post Office. According to Seward, the student—a woman—was accosted by a man near the corner of Golden Gate and Hyde. She was able to escape and fled into the Post Office—thinking it a safe, federally-funded space. She was wrong, says Seward. Instead of finding safety, she found a nearly deserted warren of rooms (the building is staffed by one or two workers at most who operate behind a gated window in the far corner of the office). With no one around, she was all but cornered—and only managed to escape, says Seward, by way of good luck and a quick dash for the doors.
What’s more, the Tenderloin—which is a neighborhood, says the Tenderloin Housing Clinic’s Randy Shaw, that’s trying to grow into a healthy, clean community—does not as of now have a full service Post Office. The building on the corner of Golden Gate and Hyde has only postal boxes and a window for mailings and postage. There is of course the Federal Building down the street, but to enter one must submit to a series of searches—all just to send a few holiday packages. Most disturbing, says Alysabeth Alexander, a community activist with La Voz Latina, Hispanic residents of the Tenderloin—especially those with less than secure status in this country—almost always feel too intimidated by the prospect of entering the Federal Building. For them, there is no postal service in the Tenderloin—and many of them will be trekking blocks and blocks, to the Mission, to Market, to send their mail this Christmastime.
As opposed to so many of the social problems that plague San Francisco, solving this one seems relatively easy—all that’s required, says Zamora, is a little political muscle to convince the Postal Service that it’s time to quit federally funding a crime zone and convert the Post Office to a full-service station. “A full service post office will increase citizen traffic and commerce and improve security on the corner dramatically,” she says. “The Tenderloin is a residential neighborhood that deserves a full-service post office.” The press release further implies solutions by pointing out that the building’s structure itself is part of the problem: “[The Post Office’s] concrete walls create a perfect screen for drug dealing on the sidewalk, a problem that could be reduced with the installation of additional windows.” Or, suggests the news release, “additional staff”—security personnel for instance—could also help keep drug trafficking and danger to a minimum.
The best solution, however, says box-holder Michael Nulty, is for the federal government to convert the station to the full-service outlet the community deserves: “Postal Patrons want retail services along with safe facility to enhance our community 18 years in the making.” To Nulty and to those who’ve organize the press conference—and who demand action from the federal government on this matter—converting the post office to a full-service station is a “win-win” solution.
TNT Kicks Off Post Office Petition Drive
Capt. Gary Jimenez speaks at TNT Rally
TNT Kicks Off Post Office Petition Drive
by Ben Malley‚ Dec. 14‚ 2007
Members of The New Tenderloin (TNT) have taken another step to creating positive change in their community. At a rally in front of the large stone walls at the post office at Golden Gate and Hyde Streets, various community organizations and residents kicked off a petition drive to make the post office full-service. For years, the minimum-service post office has served as an open invitation for drug dealing and other criminal activities.
“All great communities have a working post office, and the Tenderloin should be no different,” said Tenderloin Police Captain Gary Jimenez. Attracting a variety of participants from the North of Market Community Benefit District to nearby Hastings College of Law, the petition drive will culminate in the sending of the signatures to postal officials and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Community members want the post office turned into a full-service post office for two reasons. First, and most importantly, the community needs a real post office. The post office at 101 Hyde has only post office boxes and a window for mailing. There isn’t even a drop box. A customer must stand in line to mail their letters. The nearest full-service post office is at the Federal Building, a few blocks away. But at that building customers are searched before they are allowed to enter.
The second benefit would be that a full-service post office would encourage more customers. With more customers and foot traffic in a regularly used post office, crime would be pushed away from the Golden Gate and Hyde corner. “People pay $30 a month for their box here and they are afraid to pick up their mail,” said Elaine Zamora, head of the North of Market Community Benefit District. One man in the crowd held a sign that said, “Pick up your mail… and run.”
“If this were a privately held site,” said Hastings College CFO David Seward, pointing to the post office, “they would be open to litigation from the city for providing an area for criminal activity like this to go on.”
Organizer Jesse Nathan told the crowd that the area had become a federally-funded crime zone and Captain Jimenez said there was only so much the police could do. “We need to do more than just conduct crime sweeps of this area,” said Jimenez. “We need to dissuade people from dealing here, and the way to do that is to maintain security. A full-service post office would do just that.”
TNT Kicks Off Post Office Petition Drive
by Ben Malley‚ Dec. 14‚ 2007
Members of The New Tenderloin (TNT) have taken another step to creating positive change in their community. At a rally in front of the large stone walls at the post office at Golden Gate and Hyde Streets, various community organizations and residents kicked off a petition drive to make the post office full-service. For years, the minimum-service post office has served as an open invitation for drug dealing and other criminal activities.
“All great communities have a working post office, and the Tenderloin should be no different,” said Tenderloin Police Captain Gary Jimenez. Attracting a variety of participants from the North of Market Community Benefit District to nearby Hastings College of Law, the petition drive will culminate in the sending of the signatures to postal officials and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Community members want the post office turned into a full-service post office for two reasons. First, and most importantly, the community needs a real post office. The post office at 101 Hyde has only post office boxes and a window for mailing. There isn’t even a drop box. A customer must stand in line to mail their letters. The nearest full-service post office is at the Federal Building, a few blocks away. But at that building customers are searched before they are allowed to enter.
The second benefit would be that a full-service post office would encourage more customers. With more customers and foot traffic in a regularly used post office, crime would be pushed away from the Golden Gate and Hyde corner. “People pay $30 a month for their box here and they are afraid to pick up their mail,” said Elaine Zamora, head of the North of Market Community Benefit District. One man in the crowd held a sign that said, “Pick up your mail… and run.”
“If this were a privately held site,” said Hastings College CFO David Seward, pointing to the post office, “they would be open to litigation from the city for providing an area for criminal activity like this to go on.”
Organizer Jesse Nathan told the crowd that the area had become a federally-funded crime zone and Captain Jimenez said there was only so much the police could do. “We need to do more than just conduct crime sweeps of this area,” said Jimenez. “We need to dissuade people from dealing here, and the way to do that is to maintain security. A full-service post office would do just that.”
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