Buffalo's central post office considered for possible closing

By WBFO Newsroom

Buffalo, NY – The U.S. Postal Service announced Thursday that it may close more than 250 mail processing facilities around the country.

That could mean the loss of 35,000 jobs.

Some of those jobs could be lost right here in Buffalo.

A study will examine the Buffalo Processing and Distribution Center at 1200 William Street. It will then be determined if the site should shut down and consolidate to Rochester.

Karen Mazurkiewicz is a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service in Western New York.

"Unsettling that we have 700 employees. But something that as volume has changed, it's time to look at our structure to see if we can be more efficient," said Mazurkiewicz.

The study, which is expected to be completed in early 2012, comes as the Postal Service faces one of the most difficult challenges in its history.

Annual mail volume has declined by more than 43 billion pieces in the past five years and is continuing to decline. Total First-Class Mail has dropped 25 percent and single piece First-Class Mail letters bearing postage stamps has declined 36 percent in the same timeframe.

Western New York Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and Congressman Brian Higgins both are vowing to fight a potential closing.