Chicago: Got Mail?

On Thursday, May 31, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 2525 of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL, the Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia Subcommittee held a hearing entitled, “Chicago: Got Mail?”  This hearing was held to examine the mail delivery challenges in Chicago and continue the Subcommittee’s oversight of the U.S. Postal Service. 

During the late 1990’s the United States Postal Service (Postal Service) attempted to improve the mail service in Chicago, IL. Chicago has been experiencing some of the lowest ratings in the nation on the percentage of overnight mail delivered on time.  The Postal Service rebounded from its low rating during the late 1990’s only to find that in 2007, Postmaster General John H. Potter stated that Chicago once again has the worst delivery service in the nation. 

The following witnesses testified at the hearing:

Mr. Jack Potter, USPS Postmaster General

Mr. Richard Mell, Alderman, 33^rd Ward

Mr. Brendan Reilly, Alderman, 42^nd Ward

Mr. Robert Fioretti, Alderman, 2^nd Ward

Mr. Manuel Flores, Alderman 1^st Ward

Mr. David Orr, Clerk of Cook County

Mr. John Maxson, CEO, The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association

Mr. David Vite, Illinois Retail Merchants Association

Mr. Jerry Roper, CEO, Greater Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

Ms. Margaret Metcalf, Acting Executive Director, Streeterville Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Larry Green, Pioneer Press

Ms. Karen Furnweger, Editor/Content Manager, John G. Shedd Aquarium

Mr. Chris Cleghorn, Easter Seals

Mr. Nick Massarella, Constituent

Ms. Phyliss Unosawa, Constituent

Mr. Bernard McNeela, Constituent

Mr. Dave Barlow, Constituent

Mr. Forest Robinson, GLD-TEKS Computerized Distribution Systems

Mr. Sam Anderson, President of the Chicago Local of the American Postal Workers Union

Mr. Jimmie Canada, President, Charles Duffy Branch, National Association of Letter Carriers

Mr. Steve Traylor, State Steward, Illinois National Rural Letter Carriers Association

Mr. Hardy Williams, President of the Chicago Local Mail Handlers Union

Mr. Charles May, President, National Association of Postal Supervisors, Branch 14

Mr. James Jenkins, Mail Carrier, Otis Grant Collins Plant

Mr. Gordon Milbourn, Office of the Inspector General, Assistant Inspector General for Audit

Ms. Joanne Feindt, Vice President, Great Lakes Area

Ms. Gloria Tyson, District Manager/Chicago Postmaster

Mr. Todd Hawkins, Senior Plant Manager, Chicago