DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Volusia County could lose 100 jobs in an already down economy. A major post office in Daytona Beach may shut down and just talk of closing it is not sitting well with residents.
"I mean, it sucks," one customer told WFTV.
"I think it's terrible," another said.
"No, of course I don't like it," another said.
Not one customer WFTV spoke to Thursday morning was pleased about the possibility of their favorite post office, on Bill France Boulevard (see map), shutting down.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) wants to consolidate the Daytona Beach office into its Lake Mary location in Seminole County; the Daytona Beach building is a third empty. Officials hope to save $5.7 million a year through the move.
USPS officials blame decreasing mail volumes and revenue for the proposal. Retail and business customers would be encouraged to use other sites nearby.
"I don't think I'll be driving to Lake Mary to get mail. That's ridiculous. Yeah, that sucks," customer Teira Smith said.
Tourism officials don't want to lose the Daytona Beach postmark either; they say it's a part of the city's brand.
USPS officials say they won't be laying off the 109 employees who work there now; they'll simply reassign them to other offices within a 700-mile radius. Postal worker Jeanette Rankin could end up as far away as South Carolina.
"This is our jobs and our careers and it's going to be really sad if that happens," Rankin said.
WFTV called the USPS spokesperson in Atlanta, Joseph Breckenridge.
"This is a positive, because it's going to help the Postal Service. If we do it, it's going to help the Postal Service survive," Breckenridge said.
USPS promises no changes in delivery times, but admits reassignments are a necessary evil.
"We don't like the idea of folks having to move and taking their children out of school, but, again, it's reality," Breckenridge said.
Postal workers are having customers fill out petitions to show their disapproval of the possible move. They hope to collect 5,000 to send to the consumer affairs manager in Jacksonville. There's also a public hearing October 7.