Jonathan Weiss
President Trump’s task force on postal reform will soon release a report that provides recommendations to address the financial stability of the United States Postal Service (USPS). The President’s task force is expected to report on pricing, policies and workforce costs, and has the potential to have ramifications for the apartment industry.
As previously reported, some of the cost-savings measures considered in the past could come in the form of mandated centralized delivery in place of door-to-door delivery for existing and future apartments. While USPS policy already favors centralized mail delivery for new addresses, current efforts leave open the possibility that existing apartment addresses will be required to convert to centralized delivery.
Previous efforts in Congress to pass postal reform have stalled but the Administration’s report could bring new attention and momentum to the issue. NMHC/NAA is engaged in the debate because of the significant impact these changes to delivery methods could have on apartment communities and residents. There are practical implications for apartment operators relative to centralized delivery. Further complicating a possible transition are existing USPS regulations that prevent other delivery carriers from accessing USPS mailboxes. This means that apartment communities may be forced to provide two separate delivery spaces: one for USPS and one for other delivery companies, causing duplicative expenses and design challenges.
Earlier this year, NMHC/NAA sent a letter to Congressional Leaders outlining apartment industry concerns about changes to mail delivery policy. NMHC/NAA will continue to work to ensure that apartment communities’ needs are front and center as the Administration and Congress consider any changes to USPS mail delivery policy. Any reforms must not be overly burdensome to existing and future apartment communities who are responsible for meeting a host of design, legal, and resident demands.
More information on postal service reform and package delivery can be found here.
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