Carrier shortage impacting mail delivery in Leeds, South Cairo

CATSKILL―For some Leeds and South Cairo residents, getting the mail used to be as simple as walking to the end of the driveway. Now, it means a trip to Catskill.

The problem: a shortage of carriers.

In recent weeks, numerous residents have reported going days without mail delivery, raising concerns about delayed bills and other important correspondence.

“A mail delivery route contracted to a third-party, serving customers in Leeds and South Cairo, is experiencing staffing issues,” said Mark Lawrence, regional spokesperson for the United States Postal Service (USPS).

“In the interim, USPS is using postal personnel from nearby offices, when possible, to maintain mail deliveries until the contractor can staff the route,” he added.

According to Lawrence, impacted customers may receive delivery earlier or later in the day than usual.

“We thank our customers for their patience and understanding,” he said.

Lawrence also said that despite the staffing challenges, mail delivery is current. But multiple residents who have made complaints or taken to social media to express concerns, say that is not the case.

“We received paper mail two days last week, Wednesday and Saturday. So, within the last two weeks we have received mail three days,” said resident Jacklyn Bernier.

Like others, Bernier says packages, but not envelopes, are arriving in her mailbox sometime in the evening or nighttime hours.

“I asked why they can’t just leave any paper mail we have when they deliver the packages and they just said they can’t with no other explanation,” she said. “We are now expected to pick up our mail in person at the Catskill post office before they close at 5 p.m.”

Carriers do not work out of Leeds or South Cairo and as is the case in many rural communities, mail is delivered out of a larger area post office like Catskill.

The USPS has utilized contractors to transport mail between postal facilities since at least 1792 and directly to homes and businesses for more than 100 years. According to USPS, contractors collect and deliver mail mostly in rural areas.

One postal employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the problem is not lack of effort on the part of current workers.

“The carrier they had before was there for a long time and he was fantastic,” they said. “He left and now the [USPS] is having problems with its contractor that can’t get people to work.”

“I’m not saying the job is easy or finding people to work at all these days is any easier,” they added. “It’s not a localized issue or a new one either, other parts of the country are having the same problems.”

In May, Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18), who represents communities in Orange, Ulster and Dutchess counties, penned a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner on what he described as “glaring issues preventing Hudson Valley residents from receiving critical packages and correspondence.”

Ryan cited concerns of people not receiving medications on time, missing rent payments, and a lack of resources and support for Hudson Valley mail carriers, following complaints of chronically delayed mail and days-long stretches without delivery.

“Our mail carriers work hard to serve every corner of the Hudson Valley, braving all kinds of weather and challenges to ensure people stay connected, informed, and cared for, and they deserve the staffing and resources to do so effectively. I urge you to ensure that postal workers in this region are fully supported so mail can be delivered on time,” Ryan wrote.

“The Postal Service is not a luxury,” Ryan added. “For many in the Hudson Valley, including our rural communities, it is a lifeline.”

Bernier hopes USPS will temporarily approve free post office boxes for affected residents, but so far, that option has not been authorized.

“This is expected to go on for months,” Bernier said. “There is a job posting up to fill the contract route that we are on until mid-October and in mid-November is when they can put it up for bid again.”

“We might have some serious issues once it is the holiday season and we can’t rely on mail service,” she said.