U.S. Postal Service: No ZIP code for you
August 11, 2009
By Contributor
NEW — 3:35 p.m. Aug. 11, 2009
After formally petitioning for its own unique ZIP code, the city of Newcastle has been denied that request by the local district office (Seattle) of the U.S. Postal Service.
The decision comes after the city made a formal presentation to postal service managers. This is the third time city officials have requested, and been turned down for, a ZIP code.
The city’s official request included results of a survey of residents completed by 400 people showing 98 percent were in favor of a unique ZIP Code, and that more than half have experienced delivery and service issues. (Newcastle currently uses two ZIP Codes assigned to Renton.)
The application also included other arguments, such as a loss of sales tax based on improper coding and higher insurance rates. But postal service officials said Newcastle’s population simply wasn’t large enough.
“The decision is very disappointing to all of us at City Hall, as well as the residents of Newcastle,” said Newcastle Mayor Ben Varon. “The city was pushing hard to solve the ZIP code dilemma, because it’s something that impacts our citizens on a daily basis. We share in their frustration.”
The city has the right to appeal this decision to a higher level at the postal service, and is now evaluating its options.
Comments
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
