Colorado’s Western Slope – including Pitkin County – could face economic shifts if USPS’ changes become reality

The United States Postal Service (USPS) heard from many Western Slope residents on Thursday concerned about the possible ramifications of a proposed service change moving processing from Grand Junction to Denver. 

USPS held a public meeting at Colorado Mesa University’s University Center in Grand Junction, headed by James Boxrud, from the Strategic Communications Department of the USPS, and Felipe Flores, director of the Western Division. 

The point of the meeting was to listen to public comments from the community about USPS’ idea of shifting mail processing away from Grand Junction’s facility. 

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Many people voiced multiple reasons why this would not be a good idea, including the additional time it would take to deliver mail throughout the West Slope. 

Local bookkeeper Glen Pearson said he was concerned how that could impact critical deliveries like medication and rent checks. 

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“Right now, if I mail off paychecks today, it’ll be in their mailbox tomorrow. There’s no way it’ll be in their mailbox tomorrow if it goes to Denver. When they’re mailing their rent to their landlord, if they’re late, they’ll be evicted. If you’re saying mail it earlier, they haven’t gotten their paycheck yet,” said Glen Pearson, a local bookkeeper. 

Other concerns were about jobs and whether or not local postal workers would be cut, have their hours change, or have to relocate to Denver. 

“People depend on these jobs; their kids depend on them,” a local caretaker said. 

Some concerns had to do with taking away a huge part of the economy for not just Grand Junction but for the entire Western Slope, which includes Garfield, Mesa, Montrose, Pitkin, Delta, and more counties.

“We have a hard enough time in rural Colorado; our economic development being taken seriously by the Front Range. Now you’re going to move our logistics? Our ability to compete? With our strong post office and our great service, we know them by name in this community,” Kristin Hartman said. 

One commenter, Randy Spinell, a geologist, wondered if the proposed changes would actually bring about the desired results for USPS.

“I don’t see the data. Therefore, I feel bad because I cannot make legitimate comments on the data. If I don’t have the numbers, if I can’t have the details, why am I here today to listen and to find out that I need to provide my comments by March 8? Why do you think I’m going to be able to respond to no data by March 8?” he asked. 

One other concern was a question about the carbon footprint and effect on the ecology. 

“We have a deep connection here to the Western Slope,” one commenter noted. 

“The carbon footprint going across the I-70 corridor with additional trucks, additional cost of transportation – and I’ve driven back and forth to Denver enough, and it’s a mess,” another commenter added. 

Rifle City Manager Tommy Klein told the USPS representatives that there was a huge boulder that had fallen onto I-70 near Cameo in the De Beque Canyon on Thursday afternoon, adding to the concerns of how I-70’s treacherous nature would add to the issue of mail getting back and forth to the Western Slope on time.

Other commenters mentioned how this would impact the workload in Denver, as well and how important the timing is with elections coming up.  

Grand Junction Mayor Anna Stout also had some questions for USPS. 

“I appreciate looking for efficiencies and the need for modernizing. What I think is really giving our community consternation right now is that the math isn’t working for us. I-70 math is very different from flat plains math,” she said. 

She noted that Grand Junction is a hub for the Western Slope of Colorado and that local businesses and governments might have a hard time communicating with their public if mail is sent to Denver. 

“Without a logistical explanation of this plan, we hear that this will still be a two-day turnaround: we need to know how. We’re waiting for it, we’re looking for it, and we keep hearing “What will happen?'” she said.