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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-21-2014 pc - gibsonAGENDA CORRE PONDENCE Date�al � Item #�_ January 21, 2014 JAN 2 2 2014 Good Evening: My name is Joe Gibson, and I am a resident of Morro Bay, an employee of the San Luis Obispo Post Office, and an elected officer of my local letter carrier open -shop union that represents the Central Coast. I am addressing the City Council this evening speaking on my own behalf to introduce to the Council a Postal Resolution for future consideration as an agenda item. Over the years, the Postal Service has been increasingly treated as a partisan political issue, often resulting in unfair accounting laws and business restrictions, even though we have been mandated to operate without taxpayer funding for over 40 years. The proposed resolution submit to you tonight addresses specifically the most onerous accounting law, a 2006 requirement that we prefund a 75 -year future retiree healthcare fund — something no other government agency or private business is required to do — literally setting aside money for employees not yet born. As an example, last year the USPS would have had a profit of $600 million dollars; however, this one bizarre accounting law meant that it had to report to the public a net loss of $5 billion. The resolution asks that you urge Senators Feinstein and Boxer to fairly address this accounting law, and to treat the Postal Service fairly overall due to its particular importance as the backbone of the shipping and mailing industry and as a vital source of veterans jobs (the only larger employer of veterans being the Department of Defense). The resolution goes on to address the other major segments of America we serve, asking that our US Senators do not cut the services we offer such as 6 -day door delivery, before addressing our finances honestly. I make this request as an employee with 20 to 30 years left to go before I retire, who does not want to undercut the future viability of my employer or my benefits but instead wants the opportunity to see our business grow. For perspective, I have also attached an update of local California government bodies that already have or are considering addressing this same resolution. Please contact me if you have any questions while you consider this matter. Sincerely, � 44 Joe Gibson 490 Trinidad St Morro Bay, CA 93442 805.305.0064 jrgibdawg @hotmail.com US Postal Service Resolution WHEREAS, The US Postal Service is a vital component of this country's economic and communications infrastructure handling and delivering 160 billion pieces of mail and generating more than $65 billion in revenues annually, while receiving no taxpayer funding; and WHEREAS, The mailing industry, which employs 8 million Americans, generates over $1 trillion dollars annually, and represents approximately seven percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), depends on the US Postal Service's invaluable mail processing, retail and last -mile delivery networks 6 days a week; and WHEREAS, The US Postal Service is the only private company or federal agency required by Congress to pre -fund future retiree health benefits for 75 years, requiring $5.5 billion dollars to be paid annually. In addition, the health benefits for postal retirees is fully funded with billions of dollars in excess, so there is no need to require a crippling $5.5 billion additional annual payment that is causing unnecessary service cuts; and WHEREAS, Protecting voting by mail, which is now commonplace in California, is essential to our democracy; and WHEREAS, The US Postal Service is the second largest employer of US Veterans in the country with over 22% of its employees United States Veterans; and WHEREAS, Rural communities, many of which do not have access to the Internet, remain dependent on the Postal Service for vital communications and for the shipment of goods; and WHEREAS, Small businesses along with many Americans, particularly seniors, depend on the Postal Service for receipt of their prescription drugs; now THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the San Luis Obispo City Council urges US Senator Barbara Boxer and US Senator Dianne Feinstein to support postal reform legislation that would: Secure the continuance of 6 -day mail delivery; Stabilize the Postal Service's finances by reforming or eliminating future retiree health financing policies that are crippling the Postal Service's finances; Strengthen and protect the Postal Service's invaluable mail processing, retail and last -mile delivery networks that together comprise a crucial part of the nation's infrastructure; Retain door -to -door delivery for 30 million plus households and businesses; and be it further RESOLVED, That the San Luis Obispo City Council transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to both US Senator Barbara Boxer and US Senator Dianne Feinstein, and to the United States Postmaster General. December 14th Update on City Council Resolutions We have been making steady progress in most areas of the state working to get City Council resolutions introduced. These resolutions, urging our US Senators to secure the continuance of 6 -day mail delivery; stabilize the Postal Service's finances by reforming or eliminating future retiree health financing policies, strengthen and protect the Postal Service's invaluable mail processing, and retaining all door -to -door delivery. Below is a list of where we are to date. Recent action is in blue. Resolutions have been passed in the following: Petaluma Berkeley Millbrae Anaheim Santa Clara San Francisco Mendocino County Board of Supervisors Santa Ana Westminster Daly City Ukiah Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Marin County Board of Supervisors Los Angeles Resolutions that are on upcoming agendas: San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Paradise San Pablo Santa Rosa City Council Butte County Board of Supervisors La Puente Hayward Carpenteria Mendota Huron Orange Cove Resolutions are in the discussion phase: Pasadena Burbank Santa Clarita Mountain View San Diego Goleta Sonoma City Council Rohnert Park City Council San Rafael City Council Marin County Board of Supervisors Oxnard Camarillo Oakland Vallejo Hercules Monterey Antioch Upland Contra Costa Board of Supervisors Half Moon Bay