Dear Editor:

I am writing in regard to the recent notification by the PostalService that all postal patrons in the “Olde Towne” section ofBrookhaven will be required to have a “line” box.

Dear Editor:

I am writing in regard to the recent notification by the PostalService that all postal patrons in the “Olde Towne” section ofBrookhaven will be required to have a “line” box. This means thatthe lovely historic streets of this area will now by cluttered byunsightly mailboxes in a bow to “progress.”

Not only is the post office mandating this to occur “within twoweeks,” but they are also installing the boxes “at no charge.” Letme say upfront that I am emphatically opposed to thisinitiative.

First of all, among the reasons I chose to live in this area isits aesthetic appeal: the historic character of the neighborhood,the picturesque streets and the eclectic mixture of architecturalstyles.

I feel that if the post office has its way, so much of what is”picturesque” and “quaint” about this part of town will bediminished.

In addition to the unsightliness of one mailbox in front of myhome, the post office also tells me that I may have to have twoothers also dotting the landscape as they may only be putting theboxes on one side of the street.

No thank you!

From a practical standpoint, this initiative will have anegative impact on older and handicapped persons, many of whom livein this part of town. They will now have to go all the way to thestreet, and perhaps cross the street, to get their mail. For manycitizens in these neighborhoods it is difficult enough to get outonto their front porches and stoops in order to collect theirmail.

I also believe that mailboxes in this part of town may be morevulnerable to the security problems that ensue when mailboxes arelocated away from the safety of the home. It is very unlikely thatanyone would attempt to take something out of my box on my frontporch, but what happens when it is located at the street whereevery passing pedestrian and motorist may have access to it?

I would like to know why, now, after all these years ofproviding door-to-door delivery of mail, is the post officesuddenly trying to force this initiative upon us? There has been noinput from the citizens affected by it, nor has the post officeprovided sufficient information for it to be mandated within “twoweeks.” There are just too many questions that need to be addressedbefore this should be allowed to take place.

Please join me in voicing your opinion to our Postmaster thatthis initiative be re-evaluated with local input before mailboxesare summarily planted in each yard in Brookhaven.