MAIL WATCH: Still missing deliveries? Plus, Westwood box out of service again (briefly)

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9:31 PM TUESDAY: Two mail-related notes tonight:

STILL MISSING MAIL DELIVERY? Though the snow’s mostly melted, we’re still hearing from some readers that they haven’t seen U.S.Postal Service mail since before Christmas. It may not just be the weather – one reader near The Junction, for example, says a neighbor finally got mail today from a fill-in carrier who said their regular person was out with COVID. Last week, a commenter reported being told about short-staffing. Other reports of skipped deliveries are from all over the peninsula – Fairmount Springs, Gatewood, Westwood, Admiral, Arbor Heights, to name a few; the missing deliveries were mentioned repeatedly in various comment threads this past week, and this week we’ve been getting email reports. We’ve tried repeatedly to get official comment from USPS, but so far, no reply. The last official regional statement was this on December 28th, urging people to help ensure carriers’ winter safety. (ICYMI, one West Seattle neighborhood even rescued a USPS van on Sunday.)

Meantime:

WESTWOOD BOX OUT OF SERVICE AGAIN: Just a few weeks after it was replaced and reopened, the drive-up/ride-up mailbox outside the Westwood Village post office is out of service again.:

A reader mentioned this last week, and we finally got over to check on it today. This is the new, larger box that was installed just two weeks ago, days after the old one was damaged.

1 PM WEDNESDAY: We just visited the Westwood post office and noticed the box is untaped, re-locked, and back in service.

Timber! January 4, 2022 (9:49 pm)

I don’t understand. Why does this keep happening to that mailbox? Is it being broken into/vandalized? Or is it that cars are running into it? Crazy!

Regarding mail delivery, I only just received yesterday important IRS mail (2 letters) along with two other random correspondence that was supposed to reach me at the beginning of November!

No mail again January 4, 2022 (10:33 pm)

I was wondering if we were the only people who have not gotten mail in almost 2 weeks. I also just saw a KING 5 news story about people in Covington that have not gotten mail since before Christmas. It is good to know that we are not the only ones who haven’t received our mail.

WSB January 4, 2022 (10:57 pm)

Thanks for that; I see USPS didn’t answer their inquiries either.

Auntie January 4, 2022 (10:38 pm)

That doesn’t look like car damage to me – more like it was pried open.

Barb Z January 4, 2022 (11:01 pm)

I had put a hold on my mail while I was out of town from December 23 through January 3. When I went to pick it up today at Westwood Village they had no mail being held. There were a few pieces of mail in my mailbox today, but not the mail I was expecting. The supervisor said they were short-staffed, and behind on sorting, & my “held” mail would be delivered. Other people there had the same problem.

1994 January 5, 2022 (9:52 pm)

The Westwood post office has large signs saying they are hiring.

Fairmont Parker January 4, 2022 (11:32 pm)

Been having mail problems like this dating back to mid November when we did not get any mail for 7 days. My husband went to the Westwood Post Office to inquire and got no explanation. The next day it all showed up in our mailbox. Mail stopped again right before Christmas. Started getting Mail again this Monday but just marketing mailers and one Christmas card. No mail today and no carriers seen in our neighborhood.

Chris January 5, 2022 (4:03 am)

We had one mail delivery around Christmas, then nothing. We just started getting our mail yesterday. Package delivery (UPS, FedEx) also has been messed up with none until Monday Some are still missing & hopefully will show up at some point. We understand our street was a mess from snow & ice. We could not get out & realized if we could not, they could not get here either.

RW January 5, 2022 (4:43 am)

Why is anyone surprised? U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy publicly announced his ten-year plan to slow down the mail, remove the number of mailboxes, make postage more expensive, reduce the number of deliveries, etc. That is why he was appointed. We are now seeing the results. The plan was always to cripple the U.S. Postal Service so that private mail companies would benefit, including ones he and his family are personally invested in. He has over a dozen conflicts of interest regarding the USPS. Let’s not forgot how he had mail sorting machines dismantled during the presidential election so mail-in ballots would be delayed. Until he is ousted, mail service will likely only get worse.

Tracey January 5, 2022 (4:58 am)

Does USPS have a vaccine mandate? I know the union was fighting the mandate but not sure where that stands now.

Amy January 5, 2022 (5:43 am)

We did have mail held for a few days after Christmas, but have gotten no new mail since 12/24. 1/4/2022 a carrier picked up outgoing mail from my box but left no new mail. Near Fairmount elementary.

KT January 5, 2022 (5:57 am)

Thanks for this update. No mail since 12/24 here in our Westwood neighborhood, but we are signed up for Informed Delivery so we know what is eventually coming our way.With covid spreading so quickly, not surprised the post office is affected as they work in pretty tight quarters there

Jeepney January 5, 2022 (6:51 am)

In regards to mail not being delivered, please keep in mind that USPS has a shortage of mail carriers, and like most of us, probably had difficulty getting to work. Most side streets were in bad condition up until yesterday, so I am sure that impacted deliveries.In regards to the Westwood drop box, might be time to remove it permanently if it can’t be properly secured.

Kenyon St January 5, 2022 (7:07 am)

I live in Gatewood and haven’t received mail since around Christmas. I haven’t seen a mail truck or carrier in the area either. I was sure I’d see one this week since the snow is gone.

Michael Waldo January 5, 2022 (7:16 am)

Monday I received my December issue of a magazine that had been on the magazine stands for weeks.The very next day, Tuesday, I received the same magazines January issue.

Dazed n confused January 5, 2022 (7:23 am)

We have not received mail since dec 23rd. I’m waiting for a couple of items with tracking numbers. One shows out for delivery on the 23rd and one shows the 24th. I have not seen either one. What happened to “neither rain nor snow will stay this currier from his appointed rounds” lol

vee January 5, 2022 (8:03 am)

ive had nothing in more than 1 week, have seen few mail trucks, hope we get all our mail once its sorted out

Zoomy January 5, 2022 (8:46 am)

No mail for me since before Christmas and I’m in the Seaview area.

waikikigirl January 5, 2022 (8:58 am)

I guess we are lucky that the only mail we depend on being delivered is our utility bills and the junk mail…to which I wish we could stop!

bill January 5, 2022 (9:40 am)

Gave up on having USPS hold our mail years ago. One day one clerk would not be able to find any, the next day a different clerk would stagger out with a huge pile. We have great neighbors. We pick up each other’s mail and packages when the other household goes out of town.

BC January 5, 2022 (10:24 am)

My husband is a carrier at Westwood. They are extremely short staffed, so keeping up with the volume, even pre-holidays, has been very difficult. He goes in at 7 and comes home routinely at 8 to 9 o’clock every night. This has been the case since Covid started. He was even out until 10 the other day! This is true of almost every carrier there. They are working their butts off, with little to no appreciation from upper management. They were requested to come in on New Year’s Day, a holiday that is planned into their calendars. Those that didn’t, from what I understand, had their holiday pay taken away. The snow and ice compounded everything, of course. We haven’t received any mail since before Christmas and my husband is a carrier. It’s crazy down there!

Gill & Alex January 5, 2022 (12:57 pm)

Hi, BC, Thank you for your inside perspective. We figured Covid was playing into late mail delivery here in White Center as well as the weather. However, our carrier (great guy) delivered a couple of days last week and we got a pile of mostly bills (lucky us) yesterday. Tell your husband that we appreciate his hard work!Under “hope his delivery vehicle doesn’t get flooded away with the coming storm” WC/NH skies, Gill & Alex
KT January 5, 2022 (3:48 pm)

Please let your husband know how THANKFUL we are for his service, especially during these crazy pandemic years.I still write a lot of personal letters and the US Mail is a sacred thing to me.
Midi January 5, 2022 (5:34 pm)

Thanks to your husband, the hard work is greatly appreciated. I’m signed up for Informed Delivery so I know what will eventually show up. Between snow and Omicron (which still sounds like a Marvel super villain name), hopefully we all got an extra dose of patience over the holiday.

Norskgirl January 5, 2022 (11:12 am)

I live in the Genesee Hills area and have received mail only once in two weeks. I have Informed Delivery which scans images of first class mail expected to be delivered at a certain address. Because of this I’m aware of several important first class pieces of mail that haven’t been delivered to me. I’ve spoken with staff at post office on California three times, and each time to no satisfaction. They don’t come up with a plan except to “ to look around for it”. To me this is unacceptable and extremely frustrating.

THEI ZERVAKI January 5, 2022 (3:02 pm)

I haven’t got any mail and nobody did in my building since December 23. I was planning to go to Westwood and ask for my mail but based on the comments in this page, it may be waste of time. So, what are we supposed to do now? I expect important mail and checks as well.Can we file for a complaint? Is there someone who does care in the USPS?

Norskgirl January 5, 2022 (3:34 pm)

To follow up on my above comment, today I received half the first class mail I was due to receive two weeks ago. Three pieces of first class mail due two weeks ago has still not arrived. And I did not get the mail that was due to arrive today. How messed up is USPS.

Norskgirl January 5, 2022 (3:36 pm)

Today I received 1/2 of the first class mail that I was supposed to have delivered two weeks ago. I did not, however, receive the mail that was due to be delivered today. When I called the California Avenue USPS it rang for three minutes and no one ever did pick up. So messed up.

uncle loco January 5, 2022 (5:12 pm)

I just received my first piece of mail in 2 weeks today (Highland Park). Just one piece and of course it was a utility bill. I have no doubt that they’re swamped at all of the post offices so no complaints here.