Thursday, August 3, 2017

Mail dumped on 43rd Ave, but who cares?

As someone who has had multiple packages stolen, along with one known (because it was important and expected) missing letter, and as the very same someone who has found a bundled pile of her mail- including a ripped open packet that once held a book she had ordered- on the sidewalk a block away, I always pay close attention to envelopes that I find while cleaning 43rd Ave. When I find an undelivered piece of mail I drop it in the nearest mailbox; if it is addressed to a nearby building, I just deliver it myself.

Today I found a PILE of letters, tucked UNDER the still-present smashed television (see previous post). These were addressed to 3 different addresses. I suspect that the mail carrier du jour* stuck them there. (*We have an awesome regular mail carrier, but unfortunately he has a lot vacation time, so we get a lot of subs.)

I really wanted to report these undelivered letters to, I dunno, the USPS Inspector. The title implies a person (or agency) that inspects-investigates-inquires about issues pertaining to mail. Well, first I tried the USPS Inspector's web site, but they only list a link to report stolen packages. I tried calling the phone number listed on the Inspector's site. After a good 7 minutes of "listening to the following options," I finally reached a human being. I explained to her that I had found a pile of undelivered mail, semi-hidden under a dumped TV on a notoriously sh*tty and lawless block. Her response?- "Hmm, maybe bring this to the attention of your mail carrier?"

I also asked a 311 operator what I should do about this sitch. She transferred me to the same USPS Inspector's toll-free number.

?!?!?!?!

Am I insane? Is it no longer a crime to (1)steal mail, or (2) to dump mail that you are entrusted by the public to deliver? What about that "Tampering with mail is a federal offense" line? Is that just a load of hooey? If anyone reading this has suggestions, or any leads on how to contact a postal authority who might actually give a tiny shred of a f*ck, please let me know!! In the meantime, I am going to document what I found with this post and the photo below, and drop these letters in a mailbox.