Morristown Mailbox Removal Causes Uproar

MORRISTOWN, NJ—When Morristown Committeeman Mark Gyrofy shared photos on Twitter of mailboxes being taken off the street and placed on a truck on Saturday, it ignited alarm.

But not long after, Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty clarified to the Daily Record that the large blue boxes weren't being permanently removed, but replaced with new anti-fishing boxes. These look almost identical to the old mailboxes, but are built to prevent contents from being removed illegally through the slot using string and other tools.

The postal service did not return a request for comment, but Donna Harris of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service told NY1 about the new models, which have also been installed across New York City. "You will have the new, high security mailboxes, the Cadillac of mailboxes," she said.

One of the first of the new boxes was recently placed across from the Morristown Fire Department at Speedwell Avenue and Sussex Avenue.

The confusion in Morristown happened as many lawmakers and the public are outraged over President Trump's opposition to nearly $30 billion in funding for the postal service. The looming November election, which will rely heavily on mail-in voting due to the Coronavirus, has added fuel to the already-smoldering debate over the agency's necessity and funding.

Several New Jersey democratic members of Congress, including Rep. Mikie Sherrill (11th District) and Rep. Bill Pascrell (9th District), have called for action against the president. Sherrill called on colleagues in Congress to support the post office while questioning Trump's patriotism.

"Deliberately sabotaging the USPS to undermine free and fair elections is shameful and unpatriotic," Sherrill said last week. "The USPS is vital to our democracy, our seniors, our veterans, and Americans across the country."

Pascrell asked New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal to impanel a state grand jury to investigate the president, U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, and other administration officials over the crippling of the postal service.

"One of the crown jewels of our nation is under manufactured siege, and every single American is paying the price for Trump's sabotage," Pascrell said. "Not just day-to-day lives are at stake, but democracy itself."