BY ALEC PRUCHNICKI | Updated Nov. 10, 4 p.m.: What’s missing from this photo?
There used to be a typical blue mailbox in front of the U.S. Postal Service’s substation on Hudson Street between Charles and 10th Streets.
Now, there’s an empty space in front of the entrance where, until recently, a mailbox stood. It’s gone, probably never to return.
If you get there when the substation is open, there is a chute right inside where you can deposit your mail safely. Reasons for this national loss of mailboxes range from cost cutting to reduced mail volume, thanks to the Internet, to recent increases in mail theft.
The Hudson Street substation’s posted hours of operation are Mon. to Fri., 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Sundays. But don’t be surprised if they sometimes open 15 to 20 minutes late.
Update: Katy Bordonaro, a West Village Houses activist, reports that, “The story has become bigger,” in that, now all the mailboxes in the area are gone.
“There may be new tamper-proof boxes coming,” she said
“I would like to know when we are getting mail service back. We can only mail from inside the post office now. … It is pretty inconvenient.”
Has anyone spoken with the post office’s manager, David, about this?
Saturday saw unlocked boxes in front of Sheridan Square newsstand and West 10th & West 4th.
On the update — “all the mailboxes in the area are gone” what counts as the area, here/how far?
Mailbox corner of a Morton street and Hudson also removed. This is ridiculous.
Today I used a Collection Box on S/W corner of Jane and Eighth Avenue. Box on S/E corner of Jane and Hudson accepts mail.
Yes, first the box was padlocked, then removed. Is there any other mailbox within walking distance? This is a major inconvenience.