The deadline to participate in a survey that seeks input about Southern Arizonans' experiences using the U.S. Postal Service has been extended to June 30.
The survey launched last month after a coalition of city officials, state legislators, Arizona's Congressional representatives, business leaders and community members sought ways to halt the Cherrybell processing center's consolidation to Phoenix.
Tucson's postal processing center on Cherrybell Stravenue, which is one of 82 facilities around the U.S. chosen to pack up, was set to be consolidated to the Phoenix facility on July 11, but the Postal Service announced last week that the process would be postponed until next year.
City officials sought public responses so that they could be taken to the U.S. Postmaster General Megan Brennan to have the Tucson facility's consolidation re-evaluated.
More than 1,200 responses were collected from the community and business owners, according to a news release from Tucson Vice Mayor Richard Fimbres' office. Most of them showed negative experiences.
"The results have been overwhelming," Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild said in the news release. "This is a perfect example of the importance of public participation in a city matter. The residents and businesses of Tucson voiced their opinions, and those opinions were heard in Washington, D.C."
