Congressman says that U.S. Postal Service is still in talks with landlord to avoid closing of facility named after Dominican fallen solider

NEW YORK - Congressman Charles B. Rangel told elected officials in Washington Heights Thursday that he was in communication with the United States Postmaster General John E. Potter about keeping open the Sgt. Riayan Tejeda Post Office, currently located at 180th Street between St. Nicholas and Audubon Avenues.

The Post Office is named after the Sgt. Riayan Tejeda, a Dominican-Republic born Washington Heights resident who became the first soldier of Dominican heritage to die in the Iraqi War in 2003. An act of Congress, sponsored by Congressman Rangel in the House of Representatives and then-Senator Hillary Clinton in the Senate, re-named the facility after the veteran in 2004.

“I have been assured by the Post Office that a final decision has not been reached and that they are still negotiating with the landlord to keep this important community facility open,” Rep. Rangel said soon after updating officials via email. “We are all working hard to ensure that the Post Office continues to serve our densely populated neighborhood of residents, retailers, and small businesses.”

Earlier this week, a letter by USPS obtained by the New York Daily News warned postal union employees that the current lease for the building would expire on April 30, forcing movement of retail and mail delivery services. However, in communication with the Congressman’s office this week, USPS officials assured the Congressman that they were awaiting a response from the landlord on two proposals - either a 1-year extension of the current lease or a longer-term lease for a smaller space of roughly 5,000 feet. They also confirmed that they were also exploring new space in the neighborhood of roughly 5,000 sq. feet.

“This is a special building not just to the family of Sgt. Tejeda, but to the Dominican community here and abroad,” said Rangel. “When he sacrificed his life fighting for this country, he left behind not only two young children, but an entire community who took pride in his heroism. Such a tribute to the memory of our fallen soldier must be preserved at all costs.”

Last June, Post Offices officials had feared that with leasing deadline drawing close, they would be forced to open temporary facilities and redistribute services to surrounding post offices. However, an initial agreement was stuck, making those alternatives unnecessary.

“Even with all the advancements in technology, communities in our city and across the nation still depend on our mail system to keep them connected to the world” said Rangel. “We may be living in the 21st century, but we still need places like the Riayan Tejeda Post Office.”