Over the past month, Walden residents have reported numerous cases of misplaced and delayed mail deliveries following the restructuring of the USPS Sorting and Delivery Center (S&DC) in Newburgh, in addition to slower services at the Walden Post Office due to a lack of employees.

The S&DC, located at 99 Enterprise Drive in Newburgh, underwent massive renovations starting in September 2023 and received improvements to its lights, carrier cases, and restrooms. The facility’s biggest addition was the Small Delivery Unit Sorter, a conveyor belt machine that quickly scans and sorts packages into their proper carrier bins. These enhancements streamline the mailing process, increase the facility’s efficiency, and create a more worker-friendly environment.

“This is great for our carriers and employees, and I’m extremely proud that the community receives its packages through the facility,” said Mark Lawrence, a strategic communications specialist of the USPS, who added that Newburgh’s facility is currently one of 31 in the United States. He estimated that 400 sorting and delivery centers would operate nationwide very soon.

During September 2023 and February 2024, the mailing system for the facility’s delivery routes also experienced major changes: Mail carriers for applicable areas, such as Newburgh and Montgomery, now report to and deliver through Newburgh’s S&DC instead of their post offices. Walden’s carriers, for example, transitioned from the village’s post office to the facility as of February 24.

“Offices that now have carrier routes delivered out of the new S&DC would no longer have carriers onsite as they now report to the S&DC,” Lawrence said. “Local offices continue to provide PO Box and retail services.”

Following the mail system’s restructuring, the Village of Walden has received numerous complaints from residents about mail delivered to the wrong address or delivered late at night. The village posted a response on its Facebook page on April 1 stating that the situation is a federal matter and that residents experiencing issues should contact Congressman Pat Ryan at (845) 443-2930.

Additionally, the Walden Post Office comprises a single individual running its operations, causing a significant slowdown in the office’s services. Lynn Thompson, a resident, recently visited the post office and shared her insight at the village’s April 3 meeting.

“I took the liberty of stopping into the post office because it’s ongoing, and there was one person in the post office. The phone was ringing off the hook, he had a line. It was horrific,” she said. “I did have a conversation with them, I told him that I approached the village, and they asked if we would please add to that post contact information for Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand because that’s where it has to go.”

“He did say that Congressman Ryan and Congressman Molinaro are actively working on this but they’re swimming against the tide, that they need those other two elected officials to really be contacted,” she continued. “They said that the village has to rally behind the post office or nothing’s going to change.”

Since then, the village expanded its initial Facebook post and requested residents to contact Senator Chuck Schumer at (914) 734-1532 and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at (518) 431-0120.

Lawrence stated that he was not aware of any issues that Walden residents were having with their deliveries, but encouraged them to contact 1-800-ASK-USPS with any concerns or questions.