AUGUSTA — On Monday, the U.S. Postal Service reversed course on plans to move some of the processing operations from Hampden to the Southern Maine Processing and Distribution Center in Scarborough. Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, released the following decisions praising the decision to preserve the Eastern Maine processing facility:

“For months, workers, small business owners and communities in rural Maine have raised the alarm about the shortsighted decision made by bureaucrats in D.C. to move some of the mail processing operations from Hampden to Scarborough — more than 100 miles south. This was a decision made by folks who clearly don’t know Maine, don’t understand the geography and wouldn’t have to live with the consequences of this poorly thought out policy. 

“Today, I’m thrilled to report that the U.S. Postal Service has finally seen the light and reversed course, opting to preserve the operations of the Eastern Maine processing facility. This announcement comes as a huge relief for the postal workers, small business owners and residents of northern and central parts of the state. After all, livelihoods and local economies depend on it. I want to thank everyone who contacted their elected officials, showed up at the public meetings, spoke out and fought to ensure the voices of rural Maine were heard. This victory is your victory.”

Shortly after learning about the U.S. Postal Service’s plans to reduce operations at the Eastern Maine processing facility in Hampden, President Jackson introduced a Joint Resolution expressing the fervent support of the Maine Legislature for keeping the mail processing at the Eastern Maine processing and distribution facility. In February, he presented the Joint Resolution at a public comment meeting in Brewer, where he urged representatives from the U.S. Postal Service to heed the concerns of the workers, community leaders and businesses. Previous statements concerning the Eastern Maine processing facility and the U.S. Postal Service can be found here.

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