"Save the Post Office" rally draws small crowd in Niwot

On Saturday, Aug. 22, about a dozen people gathered at the Niwot post office (150 Murray Street) to protest recent actions by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and "Trump Administration policies" related to the US postal service.

The rally was part of a nationwide "Save the Post Office Saturday" event organized by the political organization MoveOn.org. Protesters from Niwot and other nearby communities waved handmade signs and called for DeJoy's resignation for about 30 minutes during the late morning. The group did not chant, but, according to attendee Lois Adamson, there were occasional shouts of "Save the post office" or "DeJoy must resign," in response to support from passersby.

The colorful signs were also largely centered on those two themes, with at least two containing pointed critiques of DeJoy, who was appointed in June. He has recently been assailed for proposing new cost-saving and strategic measures for the financially-troubled institution, after it lost $4.5 billion in the second quarter of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These have included changes to personnel policies, removing outdated or underused equipment, and repurposing or shuttering some facilities.

Critics suggest these changes could interfere with mail service ahead of the upcoming November election, which many states plan to conduct via mail-in ballot for public health reasons. They point to recent slowdowns in service and the ongoing pandemic as reasons to be concerned.

"The upcoming election must be open and fair to all," Niwot resident Adamson said of her reasons for protesting. "I wanted to participate in this demonstration as a way to show support for the service and, more importantly, to join with others in demanding that this administration stop their underhanded dismantling of USPS capabilities with the goal of winning an election."

USPS employees working at the Niwot branch at the time did not engage with the protesters and said they could not comment publicly. The USPS spokesperson for the Boulder County area also declined to comment publicly, but invited anyone to go to visit USPS.com for more information about the proposed changes and a response to some of the issues raised at the protest.

On Aug. 18, Dejoy released an official statement suspending his proposed reforms until after the election and reaffirming the USPS's ability to handle the expected surge in volume. He also announced the expansion of an election mail task force to "ensure strong coordination throughout our organization."

"Even with the challenges of keeping our employees and customers safe and healthy as they operate amid a pandemic, we will deliver the nation's election mail on time and within our well-established service standards," he said, adding that it is "our number one priority between now and election day."

The USPS has also received some financial support as of late. Last month, the agency received a $4.5 billion CARES Act grant, subject to some conditions from the Treasury Department, and last weekend, the House of Representatives temporarily suspended its August recess to pass a $25 billion aid package to shore up operations ahead of the election. However, that bill is not expected to pass the Republican-controlled Senate.