Anacortes Washington Post Master

April 19, 2007 Mr. Stewart called me two weeks ago and scheduled a meeting here in Anacortes, WA at 0900 today. It is now 1100 and when I called his office in Seattle I was told that he "is in a meeting and would be given a message to call me back." This lack of sensitivity to normal civility is characteristic of the attitude encountered in trying to address and resolve the underlying issues. I know there is a standard USPS procedure regarding "informal complaints" and the process to be followed. None of that has been apparent in my complaint, either at the local level here in Anacortes or at the next higher level in Seattle. Extensive additional documentation prepared by me is available, assuming anyone is actually interested in trying to address and resolve this matter.

Following is the letter sent to the Seattle, WA postmaster, Mr. Les Stewart, on November 30, 2006, which details an ongoing complaint/issue that exists with the USPS. Subsequent to this letter, Mr. Stewart in a telephone conversation committed to be in Anacortes "sometime in the first two weeks of January, 2007," and would contact me with a schedule and an onsite review of the situation. To date, no action has been taken to resolve the issues presented in the letter and no onsite meeting has occurred. This is a next step in my attempts to get this matter addressed and resolved.

Mr. Les Stewart November 30, 2006

Seattle Postmaster

P.O. Box 90405

Seattle, WA 98109

Dear Sir:

I am writing to you in hopes that USPS inactivity regarding my ongoing complaint is a matter of mis-attention and not dismissal of the concerns raised in my prior correspondence. As you may recall, this all started back in August, 2006 when USPS personnel, including Mr. Lawrence Farnam our local Postmaster, relocated six mailboxes on W. 3rd Place here in Anacortes. This relocation was inappropriate for the following reasons:

The relocation was inconsistent with the plan previously presented to the homeowners. That original plan was entirely acceptable as presented and, had it been followed, no complaints would have been forthcoming. That is not to say that the original plan would have answered all of the subsequent regulatory issues discovered. It would, however, have produced a satisfactory result for the now involved and inconvenienced homeowners.

The "as installed" relocation of the six mailboxes is an impediment to sidewalk traffic even for a fully ambulatory and unencumbered person, much less so for someone walking a dog, riding a bicycle, pushing a baby stroller or, as is not infrequently the case, in a wheelchair or electric personal cart. Within one block of this installation there is an elder hospice for terminally ill patients, a profoundly handicapped individual, an elderly person who used to catch the SKAT Handicapped Shuttle at almost the exact location of the site at issue and, at another block, a foster home for profoundly handicapped children.

The relocation site is totally noncompliant with the ADA guidelines for sidewalk clearance and easement, and is also noncompliant with the City of Anacortes regulations on mailbox placement, access, passage and easement. It is both a safety and a clearance issue.

The relocation placement, which is in the center of the property located at 3014 W 3rd, significantly restricts on-street parking for this homeowner and since his driveway will not accommodate parking, makes it difficult for visitors to this home to park without imposing on neighbors for space.

All attempts to address and resolve this matter locally have resulted in the problems being shifted entirely to the homeowners, with little spirit of cooperation or compromise.

At this juncture, the six homeowners involved would sincerely like to resolve these issues in a manner acceptable to both entities involved - ourselves and the USPS. There are currently a total of eight homes on our street, with three additional lots sold that will most probably be built within 18 to 24 months. There are six lots unsold to prospective home builders/owners at this time. Long term, this neighborhood will probably have 16 residences requiring mail service. We feel that any permanent solution should accommodate the current needs and provide satisfactory solutions for the future homeowners as well as the USPS. As this is an upscale neighborhood with home values in the upper six figures, esthetics of the installation is a lesser, but not insignificant, consideration. It is in this context that a fully acceptable final solution needs to be reached.

Thank you in advance for your attention to and consideration of this matter.

Very truly yours,

Dan Cone

1004 Commercial Ave. # 132

Anacortes, WA 98221-4183

(360) 299-4596 email: Email User