In the News

Pittsfield's Bill Sturgeon relies on the U.S. Postal Service to keep him healthy. 

"I’m a disabled veteran, and I get all of my medications through the mail, so I really do depend on the post office," he says.

Potential cuts at post offices are of particular concern in Berkshire County, where nearly a quarter of the population are seniors who rely on the mail for medication and other services.

"The one solid thing they could count on during this period of health crisis and fear was the mail, and to have that diminished is simply unconscionable," says Theresa Bianchi, chairperson of the Pittsfield Council on Aging.

Vin Marinaro, former director of the Pittsfield Senior Center adds, "When my mom was in the late stages of dementia, our mail carrier stopped in every single day, just to check on her, say hello. They became great friends, and actually part of our family."

State Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier says she’s glad to see so many people speak up.

"We need to be loud, and we need to be consistently concerned about how we are going to be able to solve the problem of the post office and the postal service being absolutely taken out by its knees," says Farley-Bouvier.

Congressman Richard Neal says he’ll be returning to Washington this weekend to vote on the ‘Delivering for America Act,’ which he hopes will give the Postal Service the funding it needs ahead of the November elections.​

"The money’s here. All you have to do is get the President to tell Mitch McConnell to OK it," says Rep. Neal.