Houston residents wrongly ordered to move mailboxes

Residents of a Houston neighborhood were alarmed by a letter from the USPS. The letter mistakenly urged them to move their mailboxes to the curb or risk losing their mail service. Many residents expressed concern about the cost of purchasing new mailboxes, especially those on fixed incomes. The USPS sent out the notice on March 13, giving residents until March 27 to comply. Joe Zepeda, a local resident, highlighted the financial strain it would cause for people in the community. Another resident, Joe Vigil, considered protesting the new rule due to the pressure it placed on households. Shortly after residents began to panic, the USPS confirmed that the letters were sent by mistake. They issued a statement saying, “Any customer who received a notice should disregard any instructions or information provided.” This news brought relief to the community. The postal service is facing significant challenges, with Postmaster Louis DeJoy admitting it operates on a "broken business model." He noted that the USPS has lost nearly $100 billion and is projected to lose more without major changes. In response to its financial struggles, DeJoy announced a program for voluntary early retirement for about 10,000 employees. He hopes to implement a 10-year plan aimed at improving the USPS's operations and efficiency.