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City Council makes a gesture of support for the USPS

Oct 05, 2020 03:06PM ● By Bill Hardesty

SSL City Council passes resolution against privatizing the USPS. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

By Bill Hardesty | [email protected]

During the Aug. 26 South Salt Lake City Council meeting, Natalie Pinkney, councilmember at-large, proposed a resolution against the privatization of the United States Postal Service. While councilmembers voiced support of the resolution, the resolution was not in the SSL format. The resolution was moved to the next meeting, allowing the City Attorney Office to reformat the resolution.

At the Sept. 9 meeting, the resolution was passed unanimously.

“This a great gesture showing our support to the USPS,” Pinkney said.

“I want to thank Natalie for putting this on the agenda. The Postal Service is not only helping communities very much like ours. But also, more competitive than the privately held companies and are pivotal in voting access and health care. They play a huge role in getting people medicine,” Ray deWolfe, councilmember at-large, added.

Resolution 

The resolution outlines four points why the USPS should not be privatized.

The city recognizes the importance of the USPS to “a thriving and functioning society.”

The resolution points out that the USPS is “an example of independence and self-efficiency due to its ability to operate without taxpayers’ funds.”

The next point is that the USPS provides “a positive impact on the nation’s economy” because of the jobs it provides and the delivery of millions of items.”

The final point is the fear that privatization will lead to layoffs, increased prices, and lack of service in rural and low-income urban areas.

“The USPS is a really large employer and they also do a lot with helping communities, specifically low-income communities to get out of poverty by providing them with jobs, jobs to those who were formally incarcerated and giving pensions to families and allowing families to afford college when jobs are hard to get in the area,” Pinkney said. 

Source for the resolution

The resolution was based on a document titled, “A Grand Alliance to Save our Public Postal Service.” 

According to their website, “A Grand Alliance to Save Our Public Postal Service is a broad coalition of national, state and local organizations representing people from many different walks of life. We are taking a stand against the unprecedented assaults on our national treasure from those who would like to dismantle and privatize it. We believe a strong public Postal Service is our democratic right and are fighting to protect and enhance these services for now and many generations to come.”

The Action Network hosts the Grand Alliance efforts. The Action Network “is an open platform that empowers individuals and groups to organize for progressive causes. We encourage responsible activism, and do not support using the platform to take unlawful or other improper action.”