A federal judge has imposed limits on one of the Postal Service's cost-cutting practices that contributed to a decline in mail delivery ahead of the 2020 presidential election.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's actions delayed mail delivery and he did not get an advisory opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission.
The agency's practice of allowing late and extra truck deliveries in the summer of 2020 was stopped by DeJoy. Some mail was left behind to be delivered the next day.
The actions that led to New York and several other states suing were the delays and removal of mail-sorting machines. Some of DeJoy's operational changes were stopped to avoid the appearance of impact on election mail.
The actions of the Postal Service made a mockery of the right to vote according to the New York Attorney General.
99% of 2020 ballots were delivered to election officials within 7 days, according to the Postal Service. The agency said that performance improved in the election.
"Any suggestion that the Postal Service or anyone in Postal Service leadership, up to and including the postmaster general, at any point in time was not fully committed to supporting our democratic process is incorrect," the agency said in a statement.
The judge's ruling was released a day before the Postal Service announced plans to raise prices. The price of a forever stamp would go up from 60 to 63 cents.
The Postal Service Board of Governors has not made a move to replace DeJoy despite calls from Democrats, a postal workers union and others.
Sullivan said that the biggest impact on delayed mail delivery was the elimination of extra delivery trips.
If service standards dip below a certain level, the judge ruled that the postal service can't prohibit or curtail such trips.
That's right.
Sharp came from Maine.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
