To call the United States Postal Service cash-strapped is something of an understatement. But as the government agency slouches towards obsolescence, an interesting new money source has bubbled to the surface: booze. And it makes sense. Because who wouldn't like their mailman to bring them a box of wine with their bills? more ›

No one is very happy about the impending postal service cuts, which include post office location closings and plans to kill next-day mail, because it's possible it will run out of cash in less than a year. Now, the U.S. Postal Service says, "In response to a request made by multiple U.S. Senators, [the USPS] has agreed to delay the closing or consolidation of any Post Office or mail processing facility until May 15, 2012. The Postal Service will continue all necessary steps required for the review of these facilities during the interim period, including public input meetings." more ›

In case you haven't heard, the Postal Service isn't doing so well these days. There have been layoffs, post office closures, and a recently-announced plan to kill off next-day mail. And New Yorkers aren't going to take it anymore! more ›

Even though everybody knows that the recession was over years ago, some people are still feeling its impact, especially those working for the much-demonized public sector, which is shedding jobs under the increasing pressure for fiscal austerity. However, there is one group that is hit particularly hard by the loss of public-sector employment: African Americans. The Times reports that one in five black workers are employed by the public sector, and they're also one-third more likely to hold such a job than whites. more ›

The ailing Postal Service, which is laying off employees and shutting down post offices left and right in the face of a crippling budget deficit, announced more bad news today: the agency might straight-up run out of cash by September 2012. more ›

A postal worker in Queens was caught on camera last month opening up an Express Mail package and removing and taking home roughly six pounds of illegal drugs, according to the Brooklyn DA's office. Yes, postal workers are worried about their jobs, but stealing drugs from the mail seems a little extreme! more ›

New York's post offices offer terrible service, if you haven't heard. Old school haters have been complaining for years, but nothing has improved. In fact, things have probably only gotten worse. And according to this map, it looks like our glass is still half empty, Brooklyn, with only 3 post offices getting high ratings. Actually, maybe all this complaining has helped! [via very small array] more ›

Being in the post office is sort of like being in the bell jar, so it makes sense that the USPS is commemorating author and poet Sylvia Plath on a new stamp. The stamp will feature a photo taken by Rollie McKenna, and will be released next year; the reverse side of the sheet will feature samples from the poet's work. more ›

The Post Office, rapidly becoming one of the country's most endangered creatures, continues to dwindle on the brink of existence today, with word coming from Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe that he plans to slash jobs for some 35,000 postal workers. more ›

Neither wind, nor rain, nor sleet nor hail, nothing will stop the US Mail. Except maybe Saturdays. And a crippling $9.2 billion budget deficit. While some have been warning of the closure of one of America's greatest institutions, most of us have been sending crappy e-cards to Grandma and refusing to set foot in those "crowded" post offices (but we'll wait 2 hours for Shake Shack?). Now, the Times reports that the United States Postal Service will be unable to make a $5.5 billion payment due later this month and may completely shut down this winter unless Congress does something fast. HAHA get it? Congress? Fast? more ›

Stamp collectors and mail nerds, behold the newest design in the Postal Service's line of Forever Stamps! The 2012 "Earthscapes" series features aerial shots of the world's natural, agricultural, and urban landscapes...including such fine scenery as the high-rise apartments of the Upper West Side. more ›

The United States Postal Service, which has been battling financial problems as fewer people are relying on its offering, is looking to close 3700 locations across the country—and 34 are in NYC. According to NY1, "The Bronx has the most in jeopardy with 17, followed by Manhattan with six, then Brooklyn and Queens with five each and Staten Island with just one." You can see the list here. more ›

The United States Postal Service released new Forever stamps featuring the Statue of Liberty and the American flag last December. The only thing: It's not the Statue of Liberty in the New York Harbor—it's the Statue of Liberty at the New York New York Hotel in Las Vegas. Luck be a lady? more ›

Well this is a disturbing trend. Mailmen in the Bronx have been getting robbed over the past year—for their keys. Since January 2010 at least four mailmen have been ambushed and robbed of the keys to the buildings on their routes (and occasionally some of the mail). The NYPD has yet to connect any crimes to the stolen keys. more ›

Those New Yorkers lucky enough to have jobs often have a hard time getting to the Post Office in person, because their hours of operation seem deliberately designed to exclude working stiffs. Many of us just pay extra for the convenience of buying stamps at a deli, but this is an increasingly risky transaction, because counterfeit stamps are flooding the market in NYC and elsewhere. We recently got conned ourselves, and turned to the USPS for help getting some payback at the Brooklyn Gourmet Deli on South 2nd Street. more ›

Another thing that has been suffering in the snow? Mail delivery. Since Saturday was a holiday some folks haven't received anything form the post office since Friday. The USPS didn't even bother to try and deliver mail on Monday, and Tuesday's deliveries were relegated to first-class mail going on shortened routes. The Post Office promised the Times it was making "every effort to attempt mail delivery until the roads are cleared." Good, so what about today? more ›

Calling Newman: A Deptford, NJ resident was arrested after allegedly dumping 32,000 pieces of mail—which were due at a U.S. Postal Service facility—in the woods instead. According to the Courier Post, "Robert Lyons, a driver for a postal contractor, allegedly abandoned three pallets holding first-class and bulk-mail pieces in a wooded area in a West Deptford park on the night of May 24... The mail was recovered the next morning after a municipal employee spotted the pallets, the complaint says." more ›

Facing dire financial issues, the United States Postal Service has proposed raising the cost of a first class stamp another 2 cents to 46 cents. According to the Wall Street Journal, "If approved by regulators, the increase to 46 cents for a standard letter would go into effect Jan. 2 and be the seventh increase in a decade. As of Jan. 7, 2001, the cost of a stamp was 34 cents." more ›

The Van Wyck Expressway's southbound lanes were closed when a U.S. mail truck rolled over and caught fire around 4:30 a.m. The driver managed to escape the truck, which had been traveling south (right before Jewel Avenue), and reportedly only suffered minor injuries. The southbound lanes reopened before 7 a.m. but traffic is heavy in both directions. And, no, there wasn't any mail in the truck. more ›

Whoops! Aside from long lines, lost packages, rodents, and closed branches... the United States Postal Service has now taken their fail factor to the streets. A reader sent in this photo of a postal truck leaving the dock at 10th Avenue, attempting to make a very sharp turn and getting wedged under the overpass on 30th Street at 9:30 this morning. Check out another angle after the jump... more ›

If you live on Union Street in Carroll Gardens, you may have a holiday card coming to you. That is, if the dreaded Williamsburg Post Office ever figures out that the 11215 ≠ 11211. The envelope above, sent in by a Gothamist reader, was apparently mis-scanned by the post office and then delivered to the same wrong address four times. One theory by the 11211 recipient is that the bar code is causing the envelope to be sent to the wrong address again and again. But, as it turns out, the letter was delivered to the same address a fifth time even after the bar code was blacked out. Clearly, there was some sort of error in the complex USPS sorting process. Quick, cue Elvis! more ›

After 40 were on the chopping block, word now is there will be no Brooklyn post offices closing anytime soon — which can only help the insufferable longs lines and customer service provided at various branches... right? more ›

Even when the USPS is trying to help, they're messing things up. Since their long, insufferable lines have caused so much grief, they decided to send out tens of thousands of postcards to Mill Basin customers, directing them to an alternate place to mail letters and buy stamps during the busy holiday season. How helpful... except they printed the wrong address. more ›

The battle for Worst Post Office in the Five Boroughs continues... and the NY Times hints that it may just be the Kensington branch in Brooklyn. They report that even during the busy holiday season, no holiday cheer can be found; one customer saying, “The people who work here are awful to people.” Their solution, head to the massive James A. Farley Post Office, where allegedly the average wait time is around two minutes, and there's even a "well-meaning supervisor striding around to see how he could help." The paper found customers there from Brooklyn and Queens who travel just to get efficient service... but has anyone checked for rats? more ›

Post offices have suffered a year of insufferable lines and rodent attacks, and now as a grand finale their terrible service is being featured in the Daily News. As holiday crowds rush to get their gifts shipped, there aren't enough USPS employees to keep things moving quickly. more ›

The U.S. Post Service expects today to be its busiest day of the year, thanks to the last minute rush of cards and packages being sent to arrive in time for Christmas. According to reports, "USPS says holiday mail will increase by more than 40 percent. That amounts to about 830 million pieces of mail in one day. Postal workers say you should send all your packages by December 16 if you want them to reach their destinations by Christmas." more ›

Earlier today, some of our favorite Muppets descended upon the James A. Farley Post Office on 8th Avenue to kick off the annual Letters to Santa program. The letter adoption program enables "members of the public and charitable organizations to respond to children’s letters addressed to Santa Claus, the North Pole and other seasonal characters." more ›