Calabasas delivers stern warning on mail service

By Joann Groff  joann@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers NOT SO SPECIAL DELIVERY--A resident prepares to enter the Calabasas Post Office with packages for mailing. The Calabasas City Council met with representatives of the U.S. Postal Service in an attempt to solve ongoing complaints about mail delivery in the city.

After listening to a 15-minute speech from Postal Service representative Stacia Crane regarding 800 numbers and an updated website, council members said they were still concerned about mail service in the city.

"I'm a little disappointed," Councilmember Barry Groveman told Crane. "We asked you to come to address the complaints that we're having in Calabasas. . . .

"As you know, we've had a history with serious mail problems here. I appreciate the first part of what you said, but that's not really why we asked you to be here."

Crane said that from October to December of last year, the Postal Service received 12 complaints, nine for wrong deliveries and three for delayed mail. She said an IBM survey done in the area for the Postal Service showed positive change in the attitude of residents.

Groveman asked if the city could get a copy of the data from the survey, look at the complaints, and see how they were solved, but his requests were declined.

"Who do we talk to so we can have accountability?" Groveman said. "The only reason I want to know is because I want to answer the constituents' complaints, which are numerous and serious. Everybody does an analysis and writes a report . . . but you are saying you won't provide us those results."

Groveman and Mayor Pro Tem James Bozajian told Crane of some common complaints they receive often, including late-night delivery at times past 10 p.m.

"Our carriers in Calabasas are not working that late," Crane said. "Our employees are off the clock (at that time)." Groveman and City Manager Tony Coroalles both said they had received mail that late.

Bozajian asked for answers as to how the Calabasas Post Office could start to offer all the services of a full-service post office. He also said he had not heard back from the Postal Service after sending several letters.

"I find the level of response to elected officials to be poor," Bozajian said. "God knows what the response would be if I was just a regular citizen asking for just a basic service. I imagine if you aren't getting back to the mayor, you aren't getting back to any old resident. I have a big problem with that."

His complaints about the local office included a long post office box waiting list, vending machine dysfunction and mail taking longer to arrive. But Bozajian said that service from the employees is what disturbed him most.

"It's more an overall attitude problem," Bozajian said. "It is not serving the community well. There's a big communication issue. Until those issues are addressed, your issues are secondary."

Councilmember Jonathan Wolfson and Bozajian questioned Crane about the possibility of moving the post office because of its inconvenient location and lack of parking space.

Crane said the Postal Service is looking to deemphasize the office and contract more services. She said moving would not be an option unless the city were to perhaps provide space at a venue such as the new civic center under construction.

"If you are willing to do that for us, we are willing to work with you on that," Crane said.