U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush Hosts Online Town Hall On Mail Delivery Woes

CHICAGO - U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush hosted an online listening session to hear from residents who say they sometimes don't receive mail for days or weeks at a time.

For weeks, residents in Park Manor, Hyde Park, North Lawndale and Ashburn Wrightwood in Rush's congressional district have reported empty mail boxes.

“It’s just ridiculous,” said Barbara Jackson. “It took us three weeks to get our medication through the mail service."

Rush, who said he isn't on the Congressional committee which could actually make changes to the Post office, blamed many of the issues faced on federal leadership, particularly President Donald Trump, who has said he favors privatizing the U.S. Postal Service.

"If we don't change the output of this postal service, then the enemies will be able to prevail. We are fighting to keep the US postal service enact. But we demand the best the postal service can deliver."

In a statement released Chicago USPS spokesman Tim Norman urged anyone having issues with delivery to report them through the proper channels, but declined to acknowledge a problem.

"The Chicago District has a dedicated workforce that services nearly 1.3 million delivery points daily. We gladly work to address any specific issue reported from the community. As any service organization, one customer complaint is one too many. We encourage any customer that has a concern with their delivery of mail to contact their local Postal station or our Consumer Affairs office at 312-983-8403," he said in a statement.

Debate over mail-in voting in the November election added to concern from residents who said they worried about their vote being counted.

"I have been very proud to conduct business and answer complaints,"Rush said. "Until recently I was also very proud of the postal service in Chicago and around the nation. ... Meeting with them has always been a highlight of my career."