Avenue U Post Office- Photo By Catherine Mong
As the recession sets in, big companies begin their lay-offs and the government begins their cuts backs. Little businesses struggles to stay afloat and government operated facilities such as this little post office in Avenue U , Gravesend, Brooklyn, experiences a cut-back in employees.
Inside this humble little building holds countless P.O Boxes for the local residents, a self-service mail preparation machine and six windows with government employees. However, at the six windows, only two were open for services and one is often held up by families applying for passports. A long line often gathers.
Dan, the 57-year-old temporary supervisor for the post office, said he’s been working in the postal business for over 36 years and finds it sad that due to cut-backs, employees were being shuffled and most offices are undermanned. “I would love to see the office filled with staff, but with the budget constraints, it’s hard.”
Those not wanting to deal with the long line would attempt to use the self-service machine, but machines cannot replace and experienced worker and it could be confusing for those unfamiliar with using the machines. Dan could be seen helping local woman with a large parcel, when a steady line began to form behind her, crowding the already small post office along with the line for the postal employees at the service windows.
Posted around the office were fliers for alternative means of sending letters and parcels; most involves a pick-up from the local’s household rather then coming to the post office in person. And with the price of postage rising in June as Dan mentioned, it’s likely the people will adjust and simply do everything online.
“It’s modernization in the 21st Century. Stuff like post gets replaced with emails and text. Personally, I like getting birthday cards,” Dan sighed as he smiled. “But nowadays people would be happy with a text message.”