Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.) said Monday that the U.S. Postal Service was unable to set up a temporary postal facility in Chimayo after the community’s post office burned down on Feb. 14. accused of

In a letter to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, Leger Fernandez accused the agency of not providing residents with information about plans for mail pickup and services in Chimayo.

“At a briefing with the New Mexico-Arizona USPS District on Thursday, February 16, USPS told my office that it will be setting up a temporary location in Chimayo where customers can receive their mail.” It’s been almost a month since the briefing, and the USPS has not only been unable to identify this location, but has been unable to provide the community with any instructions regarding the relevant timeframe.”

Leger Fernandez said the lack of clear communication from the USPS has left Chimayo community members “extremely frustrated.”

“USPS should publicly announce its commitment to permanently establish a new post office in Chimayo,” the congressman said. “The community must know for sure that USPS service will return to Chimayo permanently and that USPS will not abandon this community. [which is]…rural, inappropriate, and mostly Latinos.”

The Chimayo Post Office, which served hundreds of residents, was on fire as firefighters battled the flames and extreme cold in a government-leased building on Highway 76-724. The cause of the fire has not been announced.

Since the fire, Chimayo residents have received their mail at the USPS Santa Cruz branch on State Route 76-1701. Residents say getting there can be difficult, especially for seniors, residents with disabilities, and drivers battling winter weather.

“For some USPS customers, it can take more than 20 minutes to navigate the narrow streets to and from the Santa Cruz Post Office. Fernandez said.

A US Congressman has asked the USPS to establish a temporary alternate location in Chimayo where mail can be safely received “as soon as possible.”

Chimayo residents relied on the post office to receive checks, medicines, and other important mail. Many of them are seniors and veterans, according to lawmakers.

Officials in Rio Arriba County have also turned to the USPS for help, proposing a mobile post office to temporarily replace one that was recently destroyed in a fire.

At a town hall meeting with more than 100 residents on March 6, County Manager Jeremy Maestas and Commissioner Brandon Bustos unveiled the county’s plan to establish a post office at La Arboleda Community Center. However, he also said that he had not received any response from the USPS. .

USPS spokesperson Rod Spurgeon said after the meeting, “Our facilities team is working with property owners on options at the current location,” referring to the destroyed building. bottom.

“If we need another location, we will send a competitive solicitation to the community for new solutions,” Spurgeon said.