TUCSON – Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Tucson) released the following statement after confirming with U.S. Postal Service (USPS) that any plans to close the Processing and Distribution Center in Tucson/Cherrybell remain on “deferred” status.

“USPS’s continued extension on any closure or consolidation of the Cherrybell Processing Center emphasizes the argument that I have made for five years now: That closing this facility will be harmful to our region, to our economy and to our neighbors who work there every day,” Rep. Grijalva said. “There is no good reason to proceed with consolidation plans, especially in high-growth regions like Tucson which need more resources to fulfill our postal needs – not less. Today’s confirmation from USPS is welcome news, but we will continue to fight for Cherrybell until they announce once and for all that the distribution center, and the nearly 250 jobs within it, are safe ill-conceived and arbitrary consolidation.”

Rep. Grijalva introduced legislation in 2012 and again in 2015 ensuring zip codes with high population growth – including Tucson – would not be subject to postal closures. In Feb. 2013, he sent a letter to Postmaster General Donahoe urging transparency and the recognition of the Tucson community’s adamant opposition to the facility closure.  In Oct. 2014 he led a letter signed by all five Arizona Democrats urging Postmaster General Donahoe reconsider consolidating the Tucson facility in light of USPS’s lack of an impact analysis and public engagement on planned service standard changes. In March 2015 he joined five members of the Arizona Congressional Delegation in sending a bipartisan letter urging USPS enact a moratorium on continued consolidations. In Aug. 2015 he led a letter to Postmaster Brennan informing her of an extensivecommunity survey regarding the impacts of the consolidation of the Tucson. Additionally, he has cosponsored numerous bills to prevent the closure.

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