For more than six weeks, KHOU 11 News has been relentlessly seeking answers from the United States Postal Service (USPS) regarding the prolonged mail delays plaguing tens of thousands of customers in the Houston area. Despite persistent efforts, the USPS has remained unresponsive, providing the same written statement and refusing on-camera interviews or detailed responses to specific queries throughout this extended period.
Finally, U.S. Representatives Al Green and Sylvia Garcia succeeded in securing a meeting with the USPS Office of Inspector General, shedding light on an ongoing audit of the South Houston Local Processing Center in Missouri City. Representative Green raised concerns about customers struggling to communicate with USPS personnel, openly acknowledging transparency issues and recognizing that staffing challenges have contributed to the backlog.
Although the inspector general did not offer immediate solutions during the meeting, she acknowledged actively investigating the matter and anticipates releasing a comprehensive report in the spring. Representatives Green and Garcia have expressed their intention to tour both facilities before the March elections, emphasizing the urgent need for dependable mail delivery.
Union representatives from the USPS substantiated claims of significant delays stemming from a new sorting machine at the north Houston facility, aggravating the situation as smaller machines were removed to accommodate the larger equipment. Transferred staff, anticipating a lighter workload with the introduction of the new machine, found themselves confronted with a more challenging situation.
Representative Green extended gratitude to the press, particularly KHOU 11, for bringing attention to the issue, acknowledging that heightened media coverage prompted the USPS to hire over 30 additional employees. He hinted at the possibility of a congressional hearing if the USPS fails to enhance transparency. Congressman Randy Weber has also joined bipartisan efforts to address the widespread mail delays in the Greater Houston area, emphasizing the critical need for answers and recognizing the impact on customers.
