Politics & Government

Mayor: Medford Seniors Need Post Office Branches

Mayor Michael McGlynn thinks the city is better off with three post offices.

While many have turned to the internet and shipping companies over going to a post office, seniors still rely heavily on all three post office branches in Medford, Mayor Michael McGlynn said Tuesday.

"We’re a fairly large community, and to have two branches with a main post office, I don’t think is excessive,” McGlynn said in a phone interview.

The U.S. Postal Service announced Tuesday it would review 3,700 of its 32,000 locations for possible closure, including two in Medford - the branches on High Street in West Medford and Boston Avenue in the Hillside.

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The closures would leave the city with one office, located in Medford Square. And that would lead some seniors - the most common demographic to use the post office, these days - to have problems, McGlynn said.

“Medford, Malden and Everett have a high concentration of seniors who either don’t drive or can’t afford a vehicle," he said. “Those branches are very important to them.”

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It isn't the first time the postal service has considered closing the branches. The issue has come up at least once for both branches in the last 25 years, McGlynn said.

“When it comes up and the word filters out, I’m hit with calls until they make a decision," he said. “I’m hopeful that things will turn out alright for us.”

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