Tucson, Ariz. –Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva said the recent decision to expedite the closure of the Tucson Processing and Distribution Center has lacked transparency and is an attempt to circumvent the efforts made by the community to keep mail processing in Southern Arizona.

The recent announcement to consolidate the Tucson Processing and Distribution Center with the Phoenix Processing and Distribution Center in 2013 rather than 2014 violates the trust of the community.  Postmaster Donahoe continues to defiantly ignore requests and objections from Congress and the impacted communities.  The lack of transparency and the series of premature actions taken by Postmaster Donahoe suggest this was a predetermined decision.

Closing the Tucson Processing and Distribution Center will jeopardize economic recovery in Southern Arizona and will place an unnecessary hardship on seniors, businesses, and rural residents.  The United States Postal Service should not continue to make decisions based on flawed data to consolidate services.  Expediting the closure of processing centers in communities with growing populations, such as Tucson, is not fiscally responsible.

“Comprehensive postal reform needs to be addressed through legislation passed by Congress, not through unilateral and unadvertised steps taken by the agency,” Grijalva said.  “The community leaders of Tucson and I are committed to intensifying the fight for the Tucson Processing and Distribution Center.”