The post office branch located at 3464 Jerome Avenue in Norwood reopened on May 2, after being closed for around one year. Google also lists the post office as reopened. As reported, a mobile unit parked outside the post office had been serving customers following confirmation from USPS last year that there was a raccoon infestation in the building.

 

Following complaints from residents regarding the reopening delay, particularly during the colder months, when contacted, Xavier Hernandez from USPS, said in October 2023, “The Postal Service is committed to providing effective retail and delivery service to every community we serve. While we would like to return to regular operations at this facility, as tenants of the building, we are limited in our capacity to address pressing safety concerns. We remain hopeful that the landlord will resolve the issue as soon as possible.”

 

He added, “In the meantime, we continue to provide postal services at on-site mobile units. There are three additional postal locations for retail services in the 10467 Zip code. For address information of these and any other Post Office, visit www.usps.com and enter the zip code in our Post Office Finder.”

 

When Norwood News eventually spoke to Francisco Sandoval, a representative for the property owner, Luna Bros Realty Corp, in November 2023, he said the raccoon infestation had already been addressed in June 2023, and he did not know why USPS were continuing to operate outside the building from the mobile unit.

 

Sandoval also alleged at the time that USPS hadn’t been paying rent since June 2023, but that neither had the organization indicated or communicated to the property owner its intention to close and move to another premises permanently. Sandoval added, in part, “There is no reason why [USPS continues to operate outside in the mobile unit]. We fixed the problems during the summer, and having corrected everything, we have been calling the office, calling the manager. They don’t know exactly what was going on. They don’t know exactly when they’re going to go [back] in.”

Sandoval continued, “Because every time they said there’s something to be repaired, we repair everything right away. A couple of days ago, they said there was a leak because of the heavy rain. We fixed it. They are still there. I don’t know. There is nobody that we [can] get. We have been calling everybody. Nobody has an answer.” Sandoval also alleged that even though customers were not allowed inside the building, USPS employees were actually “using the bathroom and using everything” inside.

 

Norwood News contacted USPS again in November 2023, sharing Sandoval’s feedback and asked the organization for their comments. We did not receive a response. When informed that the post office branch was once again reopened, we once again contacted USPS and asked them for an update. Xavier Hernandez of the USPS Strategic Communications unit, said, “The Postal Service does not discuss details pertaining to lease negotiations or contract agreements.” He did not address our other questions.

 

Meanwhile, in other USPS news, in August 2023, USPS officials said Adela Livingston was appointed as executive postmaster of The Bronx, becoming the 13th U.S. postmaster of the borough and the first woman of Trinidadian nationality to serve as executive postmaster of The Bronx. They said Livingston is responsible for administering postal operations for around 1.5 million Bronx residents, is supported by almost 1600 employees who provide services through 24 delivery units and 22 finance stations, ensuring delivery to more than 533,343 residential and business delivery points across the borough’s 42 square miles.

 

When Norwood News spoke to some customers earlier this week about the long delay in reopening, Lisa Gomez, a local resident said, “I’m just glad to have it back; it felt like it was closed for so long. Meanwhile, Rob Moore, a longtime Bronx resident, said, “It being back open will just make things easier for everyone here.”