SeaTac City Councilwoman Pam Fernald sent this letter to her email list with a copy to the Times/News concerning the proposed closure of the Riverton Heights Post Office at 6 p.m. instaed of midnight.
She urges everyone concerned about this proposal to email community leaders before the Feb. 28 deadline for making the proposed change.
Fernald is also co-chair of Neighbors Without Borders Action Committee.

Dear Neighbors:
As of February 28, 2011, the Riverton Heights Branch post office is planning to change their hours of operation during the week to close at 6 p.m. during the week rather than close at midnight as it currently does.
If you feel that 6 p.m. is too early to close, please contact the people below with your reasons. Share this email with others.
The most common reason I have heard is that because of work, people cannot get to a post office before it closes. This is the only post office, which is open after 6 p.m. and people come from all around to use it to mail packages, etc.
No matter the time of day, this post office most always has a line. If they shorten the hours, it will be worse.
This is the only post office in the region (state) where an official midnight time stamp for IRS or mail in ballots is available.
I understand that the machines they intend to install in the lobby will not handle international mailings.
If you have a computer and a printer, you can print labels on line, but not everyone has the equipment.
We would like to see this branch remain open until at least 10 p.m. That still saves the post office money and gives the customers time to get to the post office. However, the actual goal is to have the post office remain open until midnight.
As one citizen emailed me, "The Post Office is breaking its promise/commitment that it made to not only those in SeaTac, but all customers in the South County. I don't know if you are aware, but Riverton was officially designated as the "replacement" for the USPS SeaTac Airport Post Office, when public access to that facility was closed. "
The Tukwila Branch at Southcenter closes at 5:30. The Burien Branch at 150th closes at 6 pm.
Please contact each of the following:
Senator Patty Murray
email: http://murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactMe
Phone: Toll Free: (866) 481-9186 Washington, D.C
Phone: (206) 553-5545 Seattle
Toll Free: (866) 481-9186 Seattle
Zack Hudgins: http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/Pages/hudgins.aspx

Bob Hasegawa: http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/Pages/hasegawa.aspx

Tina Orwall: http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/Pages/orwall.aspx

Dave Upthegrove: http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/Pages/upthegrove.aspx

Margarita Prentice
email: https://dlr.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/mailform.aspx?chamber=s&district=11

Western regional Postmaster:
Sylvester Black
1745 Stout St. #1000
Denver, Co. 80299-5000
303.313.5100 phone
303.313.5102 fax
email: Sylvester.Black1@usps.gov

Patrick R. Donahoe, Post Master General
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW
Washington DC 20260-0010

Pam Fernald
SeaTac