MAHONING VALLEY Local residents don't want Saturday mail delivery to end

Some businesses could benefit from the idea.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Some local residents aren't convinced that the U.S. Postal Service needs to stop delivering mail Saturdays to save money.
"I think there's other ways to tighten their belt," said New Springfield resident Marsha Gebhardt.
Karen Beil, also of New Springfield, added that the proposal, "just seems un-American."
During the next few months, postal officials are planning to study the effects of ending Saturday delivery and closing and consolidating some offices to save money. The officials say they are facing a possible loss of up to $3 billion this fiscal year.
People discussed the possible end of Saturday delivery at the Youngstown and New Springfield post offices.
"They make enough money already," said Emanuel Williams of Youngstown, adding that the proposal is "absolutely ludicrous."
When told that postal officials said they lost $199 million last year because of rising costs, Gebhardt replied, "I want to know where they lost it at."
Fuel costs: Postal officials have said that the deficit primarily was because of rising gasoline and natural gas costs.
Arnold Barzak of Liberty said he believes the postal service "wouldn't be around this long if they weren't making money."
Barzak added that his wife has a home business that relies on Saturday delivery. Without Saturday delivery, he said, she may have difficulty sending bills and business materials to her customers on time.
"A lot of people depend on their mail for Saturday," Youngstown resident Alma Revis added.
Some Youngstown State University students also rely on Saturday delivery, said Ron Williams, the university's associate director for materials management. He is in charge of the university's mailroom.
Williams said that for students who are waiting to receive money from their parents, the end of Saturday delivery "could be dramatic."
Some see benefits: Some local business owners said they could benefit from the end of Saturday delivery, however.
Karen Cannatti, part owner of The Packaging Store on Western Reserve Road, said she expects business to pick up if Saturday delivery is ended.
The Packaging Store can ship its customers' mail using UPS or Federal Express and is open Saturdays.
Meshelle Seidita also said that if Saturday delivery is ended, she expects more people will come to her business to ship their packages. Seidita is president and owner of Send It Packin' Plus on North Canfield-Niles Road.
Seidita also said she did not think most local residents will be bothered by the end of Saturday delivery.
"It doesn't seem like it would inconvenience too many people," she said.
Cannatti said, however, that she did not support the postal service's proposal.
"I like to get mail, too," she said.