In a strongly worded letter to the U.S. Postal Service, Congressman Charles Rangel today vigorously protested the planned closing of the Washington Bridge-Riayan A. Tejeda Post Office in Washington Heights.

"I demand a clear and official explanation of your decision to possibly close or relocate this post office," Congressman Rangel wrote in a letter to Postmaster General John E. Potter. "Those affected by the actions taken by the postal service should be notified with a responsible contingency plan.

"Closing the post office is not an option the community will accept," said the Congressman, whose office has issued repeated complaints about poor service in the area, and has met recently with postal officials regarding the planned closing of one of the busiest post offices in Upper Manhattan.

Congressman Rangel authored the legislation that renamed the post office in honor of the Dominican Republic-born Riayan A. Tejeda, a Marine Sergeant killed in the Iraq War in April 2003.  The legislation was enacted in 2004.

"When he sacrificed his life fighting for this country in Iraq in 2003, Sgt. Tejeda became the first Dominican-American killed in that war.  He left behind two young children and an entire community who took pride in his heroism," Congressman Rangel wrote.  "That is why the Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda Post Office has a special significance  and his memory must not be disrespected.

"Moving forward, I request that regardless of the physical address of the Washington Bridge Post Office, the United States Postal Service officially reinstate the plaque designating the current postal facility the "Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda Post Office" moving it in tandem with the post office," Congressman Rangel wrote. "Such a tribute to the memory of our fallen soldier must be preserved at all costs."
 

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