The cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service is considering closing more than 3,600 post offices nationwide - that’s one in 10 retail outlets.
Before today’s announcement, USPS was already eyeing two San Diego locations for possible closure.
The George Washington Post office in Golden Hill and the post office on Naval Amphibious Base Coronado were among a number of local sites added to a review list in 2009.
Of the 1,400 offices added to that review list seven months ago, 280 have been closed. More than 600 are still in the review office.
Now, the agency announced it would study more than 3,600 local offices, branches and stations for possible closing.
Most of the offices that face review are in rural areas, but postal officials say they are looking into alternative service, such as locating offices in local businesses, town halls or community centers.
Once an office is selected for a review, people served by that office will have 60 days to file their comments. If an office is to be closed, they will be able to appeal to the independent Postal Regulatory Commission.
Currently the post office operates more than 31,000 retail outlets across the country, down from 38,000 a decade ago.
The agency lost $8 billion in 2010
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In addition to closing offices, the Postal Service has sharply reduced its staff over the past several years and cut billions of dollars from its costs. It also has asked Congress to allow it to cut back delivery to five days a week and to ease the requirement for an annual $5.5 billion payment to fund future retiree health benefits.
