Postal Service

The United States Postal Service wants to send a message to the American people: We are alive and well and continuing to deliver America's mail as we always have through every crisis in this nation's history. Employees of the USPS are also sending a message of hope and courage by going to work every day and processing and delivering the mail that is vital to our economy and to our lives. We are proud of our employees and their dedication to serving the people of America.

Molly Shore Neither rain, sleet, snow nor being female could keep former Burbank resident Rosemarie Fernandez from becoming just the second female postmaster in San Francisco's 155-year history. Now, Fernandez has been named by San Francisco's Business Times as one of the top 100 influential women in business in the Bay Area. The John Burroughs High School graduate has been employed with the U.S. Postal Service for 25 years -- the last three as San Francisco postmaster.

With reference to Eden Rosen's letter ("The postman never rings twice," July 7), there isn't any easy solution to our postal problems. The postal roots have grown deep into every community, and they almost dare the residents to do something about the postal errors. We, the residents of Burbank, are doing something about it. It's going to take time and patience, but it's worth it. It would be counterproductive for me to indicate what I am doing and the response from those I have contacted.

Tim Willert BURBANK -- The postal service knows some people need deadlines for everything in their lives, and filing their federal and state tax returns is no exception. With late filers in mind, post offices in Burbank and Glendale will stay open until midnight Monday, the deadline to postmark returns. "Tax night becomes kind of a crazy night for the all the procrastinators," said Terri Bouffiou, a U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman. "It's like procrastinator holiday."

I just wanted to add something to Talbert Kanigher's statement ("Keep records of mail debacles," June 13) that the postmaster generally does not care. I have to add that our elected officials do not care, either. Due to the bad attitudes, lost, damaged and misdirected mail, I sent a letter to U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff and U.S. senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein. Congressman Schiff sent my letter to the postal service's consumer relations representative in Washington, D.C. So far, I have not heard from Sen. Boxer.

If Burbank, like the rest of America, is learning anything amid the economic downturn, it’s how to do without things it always held dear. Witness the case of the two post offices that may be closing in town by the end of the year. Just weeks after the United States Postal Service announced plans to close the Magnolia Park Post Office, spurring outrage among area residents and at least one petition drive, officials said they were also considering shuttering the Glenoaks Station Post Office on San Fernando Boulevard to cut costs.

I am writing in defense of the Burbank postal service. We have lived in our home above Glenoaks Boulevard since 1958. We are on a route that we have always heard is a tough one for the delivery person. Within our family of four children, we have a Navy family that has moved in with us at least four times and back out again. We've had sisters move in with us for long periods of time, also. Therefore, our household mail is very complicated. I laughingly tell the postman to just leave any mail with any name that has our house number.

Ryan Carter BURBANK -- A 55-year-old Burbank man has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he shot and killed his 34-year-old nephew, officials said. Phillip Norman Perry pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Burbank Superior Court to one count of murder, said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. Perry, a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier in Burbank, was arrested and charged with the alleged shooting death of his nephew, Phillip Andrew Perry, who suffered six shots to the head, chest and legs after an argument over the younger Perry's moving into his uncle's home in the 2200 block of North Keystone Street, police said.