Don't change mail delivery to homes

I was shocked to read in Newsday today that Glenwood Landing residents go to the post office to get their mail instead of it being delivered to their homes ["No home delivery," News, April 12].

When I was a kid in Astoria, I remember the bell ringing at home one Christmas Day. I ran to open the door -- and there was our mailman with one last Christmas card. The stamp on the envelope was one or two cents.

Jim Panos

Port Washington
 

As I was reading Lane Filler's column ["Time to stay the couriers from their rounds," Opinion, April 14], my doorbell rang and it was my letter carrier. He was delivering a certified letter to my home from an insurance company, a letter that was extremely important to me. I then continued to read the column. I thought, I do not even know my letter carrier's name, but day in and day out, he arrives at my home delivering my mail for 44 cents.

No matter how inclement the weather, my letter carrier always delivers. I wish that everything was as dependable as the mailman.

Imagine if at my age (70), I would have to drive to the post office to retrieve my mail in the cold winter and hot summer. Mr. Filler's idea to put 5,000 post office boxes in supermarkets to reduce carbon emissions makes no sense. Are we supposed to walk to the supermarket, or would more vehicles be on the road to those 5,000 stores?

I feel sorry for the residents in Glenwood Landing, and I would not buy a home in their community because there is no mail delivery. The U.S. mail is as good as American apple pie.

Anthony A. Barone

Oceanside
 

Lane Filler's idea to eliminate home mail delivery is terrible.

My husband and I are retired seniors whose drug coverage requires using a mail-order service. Thousands, if not millions, are in the same situation, including many who are unable to drive. Add in the effects of inclement weather or heavy snow and icy streets, and now you have people who might die without home mail delivery -- either from lack of vital medication or from injury sustained trying to get to the not-so-nearby post office.

We who are on fixed incomes and need home delivery should not be forced to pay extra for United Parcel Service, when our taxes already support the Postal Service.

His suggestion of post office boxes at supermarkets is ridiculous. Who would safeguard valuable mail?

The Postal Service is just that -- a service, not a for-profit business. Better to resolve any fiscal shortfall by raising rates on everything marked "occupant" and unsolicited advertising. Most of that stuff is unread and goes directly into recycling.

Nancy Lowenthal

Hicksville