Postal closings: Balance needed

Though at first glance there would seem to be little similarity between the mail delivery and health care delivery systems in the United States, there is an interesting connection. Surveys consistently indicate that most Americans have an abiding respect and affection for the individuals with whom they have a direct relationship in both the postal and health care systems, but that many of the same people are extremely distrustful of the larger institutions those individuals represent.

It's hardly a wonder, then, that sensible efforts to reform the nation's broken health care system so it can more equitably serve all Americans stirs such passion and debate. Or that just the suggestion that the cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service is pondering the possible closure of hundreds of branch post offices -- including four in Chattanooga -- has riled the public. Individuals, it is apparent, tend to view both issues through a narrow rather than wide lens.

The health care debate is pressing, but it likely will play out on a very large stage over an expanse of time. The Post Office issue, for those most directly affected, has a different urgency and platform. The Postal Service will hold public meetings here to discuss the potential closings of the North Chattanooga and Murray/Lake Hills offices on Sept. 30. Meetings concerning the East Lake and Highland Park branches are scheduled on Oct. 1. Similar events are planned around the country.

There is a compelling need for the Postal Service to cut costs. It is on track to lose billions of dollars this year, and prospects for improvement are dim. The service continues to struggle to balance its books as mail volume, buffeted by the recession and hard-hit by the switch from traditional mail to the Internet, continues to decline. Closing some branch post offices is one answer to the problem.

That's easier said than done. Many individuals rightly regard post offices as a town center that functions as the hub of their communities. Closure would alter community life and prompt changes that many say is unacceptable. Their arguments have merit.

The Postal Service has suggested that it is considering closing branch offices that will cause the least inconvenience. It further implies that patrons can use a nearby office if their neighborhood facility closes. That's simplistic thinking.

It is true for example, that the North Chattanooga station on North Market is not very far from the downtown branch on Georgia Avenue, but proximity means little to patrons who are accustomed to the convenience and ease of (free) parking at the North Chattanooga site, which serves one of city's increasingly vibrant residential and commercial areas.

If the North Chattanooga branch was to close, its patrons would have to drive downtown, find and pay for a parking space and perhaps walk a couple of blocks to enter the post office. That could be a daunting prospect for some older residents and for parents with kids in tow. Residents of other areas here facing possible closure of their postal branches would face similar problems. Resolution of competing interests and needs will not be easy.

There's no doubt the Postal Service must save money, but the manner in which it does so should balance public need with marketplace reality. The upcoming meetings provide a chance for postal officials and concerned residents to make their respective cases for closure or continued operation of the four branch offices, hopefully in an amicable manner.