A spirited group of community activists and postal union members greeted Senator Clinton before her address at the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation's (SOBRO) leadership breakfast series to draw attention to the proposed closing of a main Grand Concourse post office on nearby 149th Street. The diverse group of about 3 dozen passed out fliers, held signs, chanted and got their message out to the local residents, media, civic leaders and elected officials, despite heavy police presence.
The Campaign of Action to Save the Bronx PO, locally organized by the grass roots non profit organization Pueblo en Marcha in partnership with the New York Metro Area Postal Union, APWU AFL-CIO were on hand to call atttention to the immediate danger that the large Bronx Post Offices that process the mail may be closed and moved to Manhattan.
Local residents already encounter long lines and postal workers deal with intense pressure in the South Bronx due to workers being prioritized at other locations in the northern parts of the borough. At the Mott Haven Station, for example, it is rare to ever find all the service windows staffed, and interminable wait is customary. A Post Officer official, speaking on condition of anonymity stated, "You would never see that in Riverdale or Throgg's Neck."
As the time of the Senator's arrival drew closer, the Community Affairs Officers of the local 40th Precinct, communicating for the Commanding Officer, who was following Secret service orders, asked the people to step back some 30 feet from the entrance to the SOBRO building. It was at the entrance precisely where they had hoped to meet and greet Senator Clinton. The organizers made it clear that they were mostly local residetns and workers and posed no menance and wanted to share a flier and some words with their elected government official, whose job is to answer our concerns. Although, the initimidating police line was maintained that served to keep pedestrians, and other participants in the breakast forum from having the opportunity to receive information on this important issue, or the cover and excuse for not responding to shouts and invitations to join them for a moment, eventually the Commanding Officer brough the Secret Service over who brought the Senator's advance team staff to speak with the group and get a sense of what was going on.
The Police line, instead of bona fide security, seemed meant only for show and intimidation of First Amednment rights and to accustom lower ranking officers to follow abusurd and illegal orders, and not for security, as a supporter was able to easily hand Senator Clinton an informational flier in the middle of the street as soon as she exited her vehicle. To her credit, Hilary Clinton walked right over to the organized group, that seemed an unruly mob in the face of such police presence, and shook hands and spoke to union leaders. This was in sharp contrast to many well known officials and bureacrats who pretended as if the post office supporters were not even there, or were understandably too scared to walk past the police phalanx. In any case, all present took note of who's who, and were glad that the local Congress Member Jose Serrano chatted more at length, expressed his committment on the issue and posed for a group photo.
Small successes like this are whay make a mass movement for change!
Maximino Rivera, Director, Pueblo en Marcha and Bronx Assistant Director, NY METRO Area Postal Union, APWU had this to say in a written statement: "THREE MAJOR BRONX MAIL PROCESSING STATIONS – GPO on the Concourse, the
HASP near Castle Hill, and DMU by Bruckner Boulevard -- employ over 2000 workers on
three shifts. If these people are moved, the local restaurants and merchants will lose
business. Delivery will be slower. Our unique identity as “The Bronx” will be lost forever!
As the Bronx Assistant Director for the American Postal Workers Union, NYMAPU. I am
deeply concerned at the attack on Postal jobs. As the Director of Pueblo en Marcha,
a Bronx Community Organization, I am angry at the disrespect to the needs of Bronx residents.
Across the nation, the United States Postal Service is going though a process that
they call “consolidation.” Washington claims to be making decisions based on
“shifting mail volume” and “efficiency.” Really the choices are political. Those
communities with the least clout will lose jobs and get slower delivery. Political pressure can keep these offices open! "
Contacts to get involved:
Pueblo en Marcha Office
401 East 145th Street, Bx. N.Y. 10454
phone: 718-665-7375
New York Metro Area Postal Union, APWU AFL-CIO
350 West 31st Street New York, NY 10001 (212)563-7553 Fax (212) 680-1039
Maximino Rivera
Director, Pueblo en Marcha
Bronx Assistant Director, NY METRO Area Postal Union, APWU
The Campaign of Action to Save the Bronx PO, locally organized by the grass roots non profit organization Pueblo en Marcha in partnership with the New York Metro Area Postal Union, APWU AFL-CIO were on hand to call atttention to the immediate danger that the large Bronx Post Offices that process the mail may be closed and moved to Manhattan.
Local residents already encounter long lines and postal workers deal with intense pressure in the South Bronx due to workers being prioritized at other locations in the northern parts of the borough. At the Mott Haven Station, for example, it is rare to ever find all the service windows staffed, and interminable wait is customary. A Post Officer official, speaking on condition of anonymity stated, "You would never see that in Riverdale or Throgg's Neck."
As the time of the Senator's arrival drew closer, the Community Affairs Officers of the local 40th Precinct, communicating for the Commanding Officer, who was following Secret service orders, asked the people to step back some 30 feet from the entrance to the SOBRO building. It was at the entrance precisely where they had hoped to meet and greet Senator Clinton. The organizers made it clear that they were mostly local residetns and workers and posed no menance and wanted to share a flier and some words with their elected government official, whose job is to answer our concerns. Although, the initimidating police line was maintained that served to keep pedestrians, and other participants in the breakast forum from having the opportunity to receive information on this important issue, or the cover and excuse for not responding to shouts and invitations to join them for a moment, eventually the Commanding Officer brough the Secret Service over who brought the Senator's advance team staff to speak with the group and get a sense of what was going on.
The Police line, instead of bona fide security, seemed meant only for show and intimidation of First Amednment rights and to accustom lower ranking officers to follow abusurd and illegal orders, and not for security, as a supporter was able to easily hand Senator Clinton an informational flier in the middle of the street as soon as she exited her vehicle. To her credit, Hilary Clinton walked right over to the organized group, that seemed an unruly mob in the face of such police presence, and shook hands and spoke to union leaders. This was in sharp contrast to many well known officials and bureacrats who pretended as if the post office supporters were not even there, or were understandably too scared to walk past the police phalanx. In any case, all present took note of who's who, and were glad that the local Congress Member Jose Serrano chatted more at length, expressed his committment on the issue and posed for a group photo.
Small successes like this are whay make a mass movement for change!
Maximino Rivera, Director, Pueblo en Marcha and Bronx Assistant Director, NY METRO Area Postal Union, APWU had this to say in a written statement: "THREE MAJOR BRONX MAIL PROCESSING STATIONS – GPO on the Concourse, the
HASP near Castle Hill, and DMU by Bruckner Boulevard -- employ over 2000 workers on
three shifts. If these people are moved, the local restaurants and merchants will lose
business. Delivery will be slower. Our unique identity as “The Bronx” will be lost forever!
As the Bronx Assistant Director for the American Postal Workers Union, NYMAPU. I am
deeply concerned at the attack on Postal jobs. As the Director of Pueblo en Marcha,
a Bronx Community Organization, I am angry at the disrespect to the needs of Bronx residents.
Across the nation, the United States Postal Service is going though a process that
they call “consolidation.” Washington claims to be making decisions based on
“shifting mail volume” and “efficiency.” Really the choices are political. Those
communities with the least clout will lose jobs and get slower delivery. Political pressure can keep these offices open! "
Contacts to get involved:
Pueblo en Marcha Office
401 East 145th Street, Bx. N.Y. 10454
phone: 718-665-7375
New York Metro Area Postal Union, APWU AFL-CIO
350 West 31st Street New York, NY 10001 (212)563-7553 Fax (212) 680-1039
Maximino Rivera
Director, Pueblo en Marcha
Bronx Assistant Director, NY METRO Area Postal Union, APWU
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