U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is taking a stand on the persistent mail delivery issues that have left Fulton County residents and its legal system in a bind. After months of disrupted service, Ossoff is pressing for answers from the top. Addressing the gravity of the situation on the steps of the Fulton County Superior Court alongside Fulton County Clerk of Courts Ché Alexander, Ossoff underscored the need for an investigation by the U.S. Postal Service Inspector General. Alexander disclosed a staggering number of over 1,100 returned mail items, with some originally postmarked years prior. These aren't just letters but crucial legal documents including eviction notices and court orders, as reported by WABE.
The consequence of such disruptions is tangible, with potential impacts on individuals' lives through delayed or unexecuted court actions. "There’s nothing that we can go back and do," Alexander lamented in a statement obtained by WABE. She further expressed the irreversible harm done to those wrongfully evicted or detained due to the postal service’s failures. Moreover, this systemic snag feeds directly into the already strained conditions at the Fulton County Jail, where mail delays might be exacerbating overcrowding issues.
In response, Ossoff has been proactive, already conducting multiple Senate hearings to question Postmaster General Louis DeJoy about operational snafus, particularly at the newer processing center in Palmetto which has been at the epicenter of delays. Calling on Inspector General Tammy Hull for oversight, Ossoff highlighted the last six months as a demonstration of "the urgent need for much more intense, much more robust, and much more sustained oversight," according to a WABE interview.
The Postal Service itself has acknowledged the performance dip, with on-time delivery for first-class mail hovering around 80% recently, a stark contrast to the earlier low of 36% earlier this year. Such statistics provide context to the distress signaled by officials and lay bare the systemic hitches that could potentially infringe upon the rights of Fulton County’s citizens. As the probe request by Senator Ossoff moves forward, the expectation is for a robust inquiry that will navigate towards solutions ensuring effective service that the public not only expects but also direly needs.
