Belmont Post Office
DALLAS — Dallas residents who want to keep the doors open at their neighborhood post office are taking their fight to the Internet.
A Facebook page called "Save the Belmont Post Office" now has more than 150 members. Patrick Kiker — who lives in the area and also owns a a pet business there — created the page a week ago.
He said the post office is part of the neighborhood, and is extremely important for families, business owners and seniors.
"We use it nearly every day," Kiker said.
The office is located near Greenville Avenue and is adjacent to Vickery Towers, a retirement home where Mary Mottwiler lives.
"It's most convenient for us because it's right across the street, and we have many people who live over there and enjoy this post office," she said.
A trip to the Belmont post office is part of their daily routine. Many seniors stop by to mail letters, buy stamps or just to say hello.
James Pope, who lives two blocks away, has been using the office for decades.
"You are familiar with the place," he said. "You are familiar with getting here, and I know the shortcuts to get over here."
The U.S. Postal Service mailed letters to residents explaining the possible consolidation of the Belmont office with the Lovers Lane office. The packet also included a survey. The deadline to turn it in is May 21.
Belmont is the only postal facility in Dallas County that's on the list of possible closures nationwide.
USPS spokesman McKinney Boyd said declines in mail volume and revenue are forcing the agency to make cuts. So far this year, the agency is nearly $2 billion in the red.
"This is only a study at this time," Boyd explained. "Our process requires us to notify customers of any change in retail service, and we will do so, if the study is approved."
The Lovers Lane post office is less than five miles away, but for Pope and some of his neighbors, that's too far. They say shutting down Belmont isn't the answer.
"When we are old, we can't go somewhere else, you know, in a hurry, because we have slowed down," Pope said.
E-mail mdiaz@wfaa.com
