REFERENCE TITLE: Cherrybell; mail processing center

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-first Legislature First Regular Session 2013

HCM 2007

Introduced by Representatives Dalessandro, Steele, Wheeler: Contreras, Escamilla, Gabaldón, Gallego, Gonzales, Hernández, McCune Davis, Quezada, Sherwood

 

A concurrent MEMORIAL

 

urging the united states congress to protest and take action against the closure of the cherrybell postal processing and distribution center.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

To the Members of the United States Congress:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, the Cherrybell Postal Processing and Distribution Center (Cherrybell) serves the entire southern portion of Arizona covering the counties of Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise. Currently, Southern Arizona is facing a potential economic downfall due to the initial decision made by the United States Postal Service Board of Governors to close Cherrybell; and

Whereas, more than 1.8 million people and 23,197 businesses use the Cherrybell postal services. According to United States Postal Service officials, over 3 million pieces of mail go through Cherrybell each day as it is the 15^th largest facility serving the 33^rd largest population area in our nation. Thus, the processing and sorting operations at Cherrybell that are being proposed to be moved to Phoenix affect approximately 280 jobs in Southern Arizona; and   

Whereas, Southern Arizona, which includes both the Tohono O'odham nation and Pasqua Yaqui tribal lands, encompasses the California and Arizona border at Yuma south to Nogales, across to Douglas and Bisbee in Cochise County and the military installations located at Fort Huachuca and Davis Monthan, depends on the Cherrybell Post office; and

Whereas, Council Member Richard Fimbres went on record opposing the closure of Cherrybell Post Office and requested that the Tucson City Council work directly with Tucson's congressional delegation and community members to frame a campaign to protect the vital jobs at Cherrybell; and

Whereas, Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez, objects to the closure of Cherrybell and firmly believes this change will clearly impact the activities of the state and county elections officials in Arizona and will cause a detrimental impact to voters. The information provided to the public by the United States Postal Services is based entirely on economic considerations with no apparent regard for the impact of the change on the fundamental right to vote of all citizens and, in particular, the significant additional detrimental impact to Native American voters in the region; and 

Whereas, 600 people attended the public hearing, which was scheduled three days after Christmas, and 6,000 people wrote letters and signed online petitions urging the United States Postal Service Board of Governors not to close Cherrybell.

Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:

1.  That the Congress of the United States protest the proposed closing of Cherrybell Postal Processing and Distribution Center.

2.  That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.