Youngstown postal facilities considered for closure

YOUNGSTOWN

The U.S. Postal Service today announced that Youngstown’s processing and distribution facilities will be under consideration for possible closure.

At stake: Potential losses of 500 local jobs and $500,000 in lost city income taxes.

If Youngstown’s facilities were to close, their workload could be shifted to Akron or Cleveland, a post office spokesman said.

But Akron was also listed as one of about 250 potential study sites on Thursday, as was Canton, the next nearest facility.

The postal service previously announced in July that the Youngstown facilities were being considered for the study.

Postal workers plan to rally at 11:30 a.m. Friday outside the main post office at 99 S. Walnut St. to voice their opposition to the possible closures.

Dom Corso, president of the American Postal Workers’ Union Local 443, which represents postal clerks, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The postal service, facing a $9.2 billion deficit this year, said the 250 processing facilities could be slated for consolidation or closure, cutting mail processing equipment in half, decreasing the transportation network or adjusting workforce sizes.

Read the complete story in Friday’s Vindicator and at Vindy.com.