'This Is Not Going To Help': Tulsa Residents Show Concern Over USPS Mail Changes

Hundreds of Tulsans are frustrated with the United States Postal Service's plan to send mail through Oklahoma City and turn the Tulsa processing center into something else.

USPS held a public meeting Thursday afternoon where people had a chance to ask questions.

A lot of people said they rely on mail for work, bills, and medicine, and they’re worried these changes will slow down mail service to Tulsa.

Many of the people at the meeting were not happy and told the postal service they didn’t think the Tulsa mail processing should be moved to Oklahoma City.

Theresa Newham says her husband is a Vietnam War Veteran who relies on the mail for his medications and medical supplies.

She’s worried about his health if the mail gets delayed.

"Everything he gets, he gets through the mail,” said Newham. “They're not giving any promises. They're saying, 'We expect. We hope.' Those kinds of things. And that isn't guaranteeing that my husband's going to get his meds on time and in a timely manner."

The postal service says if they make the change and mail is processed through Oklahoma City instead of Tulsa, delivery won’t be any slower.

"We don't know that there would be adjustments in processing times or dispatch times, so the processing, even now, is done overnight,” said Becky Hernandez, a spokeswoman for USPS. “While everyone is sleeping, the postal service is working. So we would have all those plans in place to meet all those times and deadlines."

Some former post office employees argue that’s not true.

"It's going to delay the mail, no matter what they say,” said Michael Tiffany, who drove a truck for USPS for 35 years. “It's already delayed. Anyone, if you listen to any of the meetings, you can hear, (that) it's already delayed. This is not going to help."

Newham hopes people will get involved and be vocal, so people can still receive their mail on time.

"They want to recapture revenue off the backs of all of us,” said Newham. “Tulsa is a huge town. And there's a lot of veterans here. And there are a lot of seniors here."

People can also submit comments online about these changes until March 22 at the link HERE.