Everett mail center could close in January

EVERETT — A U.S. mail facility that handles 1 million pieces of mail daily and serves an area from Lynnwood to the Canadian border will likely close — but not until January at the earliest.

The Everett Mail Processing Facility is one of 252 nationwide the U.S. Postal Service has said it wants to close in an effort to streamline its services and save money in the face of a massive deficit and declining first-class mail.

At the Everett facility, just under 300 people are employed, and 97 of them would lose their jobs. And it will likely take longer for people to get their mail.

The Postal Service has yet to release a specific date for the Everett closure, announcing only that it plans to move its mail processing operations from Everett to Seattle.

Tuesday Congressman Rick Larsen wrangled a firmer timeline out of the U.S. Postal Service, part of his push to keep the facility open.

In a released statement, Larsen called the postponed closure “a critical win that gives us breathing room as we continue to make the case for maintaining permanent full mail service.”

He received a letter from James Cari, government relations representative from the U.S. Postal Service, promising closure of the Everett facility no earlier than January.

However, the letter goes on to say that the Postal Service “is committed to carrying out a successful implementation of the consolidation into Seattle.”

The letter also states that Seattle will begin handling first-class mail from ZIP codes beginning with the numbers 980 this summer.

Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com