Resolution 200432

..Title Calling on the Philadelphia Postmaster to meet with Congressman Dwight Evans and the Philadelphia Congressional delegation to discuss the alleged removal of sorting machines from Philadelphia area post offices which would cause delays in the processing of Census forms and mail-in ballots. ..Body WHEREAS, Philadelphia is not only the birthplace of the United States' democracy, but also of the United States Postal Service where Benjamin Franklin became the United States' first Postmaster General in 1775; and WHEREAS, The postal service employs more than 633,000 dedicated essential employees who have worked tirelessly to ensure the delivery of mail during the most extreme weather conditions and the onset of coronavirus; and WHEREAS, The Postal Service is a critical lifeline for many including many newly unemployed Americans who rely on the timely delivery of mail for important updates regarding unemployment benefits and for seniors and small business owners who rely on postal workers to deliver prescriptions and products to connect with customers; and WHEREAS, Startling reports have emerged describing how the post office is dismantling critical mail sorting equipment without replacements, slashing work hours and overtime, and otherwise interfering with the efficient mail service for which the people of Philadelphia are entitled; and WHEREAS, The 2020 United States Census has a deadline to receive census forms from citizens by September 30, 2020. It is vitally important that the census forms filed by Philadelphia citizens be delivered by that deadline to ensure accurate reporting; and WHEREAS, More than 200,000 eligible Philadelphia voters have registered to receive mail-in ballots for the November 2020 general election, and it is imperative to one of the most important functions of our Nation, as a Democratic Republic, that the U.S. Postal Service work diligently to preserve the sacred and traditional practice of voting by ensuring mail-in ballots are properly delivered and counted on time; and WHEREAS, There continues to be a threat to decrease federal funding to the U.S. Postal Service in order to prevent or discourage voting by mail, constituting a threat to our Nation's democracy; and WHEREAS, Philadelphia City Council has a vested interest in ensuring members of our Congressional delegation can hold the Philadelphia Postmaster accountable for his actions in discharging mail counting machines, and possibly slowing down the mail process in Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, We fully and unequivocally support Congressman Dwight Evans, who has called upon the Philadelphia Postmaster to meet with him, with all due haste, in order to discuss solutions to the mail efficiency issues in Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, Calls on the Philadelphia Postmaster to meet with Congressman Dwight Evans and the Philadelphia Congressional delegation to discuss the alleged removal of sorting machines from Philadelphia area post offices which would cause delays in the processing of Census forms and mail-in ballots ..End