Van Hollen, Cardin, Mfume Press Postmaster General DeJoy for Update on Planned Fort Howard Post Office Closure

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) wrote to United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy regarding the agency’s plan to close the Fort Howard Post Office on September 15, 2023. In the letter, the lawmakers conveyed their concerns over USPS’s poor communication about the forthcoming service change and the challenges their constituents will face in retrieving their mail following the closure, given the lack of home delivery service in Fort Howard. The lawmakers also called on USPS to provide an update on their future plans for mail service in the Fort Howard community by September 5.

The lawmakers wrote, “We write to you regarding the planned closure of the Fort Howard Post Office (Post Office), located at 9200 Howard Avenue, Fort Howard, Maryland 21052, to request more details on how the United States Postal Service (USPS) plans to implement this change without hurting the community that relies on this branch’s services.”

“A number of constituents have contacted our offices to express their concerns about the Post Office’s closure and their future inability to obtain their mail in timely manner. Currently, Fort Howard residents retrieve their mail from their local Post Office branch. USPS officials have indicated that residents of the Fort Howard community will need travel to the Dundalk Post Office located at 44 Shipping Place, Dundalk, Maryland 21222 to retrieve their mail after the Fort Howard Post Office closes on September 15, 2023,” they continued.

The lawmakers noted, “As you may know, many Fort Howard residents have submitted a petition to your office requesting at-home delivery. While homes in the nearby 21219 zip code receive at-home delivery, including some that are only one-tenth of a mile from the soon-to-be-closed Fort Howard Branch (see enclosed map), USPS does not currently provide at-home delivery to Fort Howard residents.”

“As such, we are requesting an update on USPS’s plan to meet the immediate and long-term needs of the Fort Howard community. […] Given the incredibly short notice our constituents received about the closure, and their frustration with USPS’s communication thus far, we also request further details on USPS's plan for informing Fort Howard residents in detail about the transition and long-term solutions moving forward,” they continued, requesting a response from USPS by September 5.

The full letter is available here and below.

Dear Postmaster General DeJoy:

We write to you regarding the planned closure of the Fort Howard Post Office (Post Office), located at 9200 Howard Avenue, Fort Howard, Maryland 21052, to request more details on how the United States Postal Service (USPS) plans to implement this change without hurting the community that relies on this branch’s services.

A number of constituents have contacted our offices to express their concerns about the Post Office’s closure and their future inability to obtain their mail in timely manner. Currently, Fort Howard residents retrieve their mail from their local Post Office branch. USPS officials have indicated that residents of the Fort Howard community will need travel to the Dundalk Post Office located at 44 Shipping Place, Dundalk, Maryland 21222 to retrieve their mail after the Fort Howard Post Office closes on September 15, 2023. This change would present a multitude of challenges for many Fort Howard residents because of limited personal mobility and a lack of public transportation options as the Dundalk Post Office is more than 7 miles away from the Fort Howard community.

As you may know, many Fort Howard residents have submitted a petition to your office requesting at-home delivery. While homes in the nearby 21219 zip code receive at-home delivery, including some that are only one-tenth of a mile from the soon-to-be-closed Fort Howard Branch (see enclosed map), USPS does not currently provide at-home delivery to Fort Howard residents.

As such, we are requesting an update on USPS’s plan to meet the immediate and long-term needs of the Fort Howard community. Specifically, we request additional information on USPS efforts to obtain a new lease in Fort Howard and conversations around delivering mail to residents via at-home delivery or cluster boxes. Given the incredibly short notice our constituents received about the closure, and their frustration with USPS’s communication thus far, we also request further details on USPS’s plan for informing Fort Howard residents in detail about the transition and long-term solutions moving forward.

We would appreciate a response on this matter by September 5, 2023. Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,