It’s been just a little more than two years since the Chimayó Post Office burnt down and it appears that the long process to find a new location and reopen it has finally come to an end.
An email sent out on Friday by Sherry Patterson of the United States Postal Service, announced that a final decision was made to relocate retail services from 724 State Highway 76 to 205-A Juan Medina Road. The new post office site is three miles from where it was previously located, the email said.
The lack of a local post office has frustrated many Chimayó residents, some of whom attended town hall meetings held over the past couple of years, for a chance to voice their frustration over the situation and get answers to their questions.
Nearly 40 people attended one of those meetings on May 4, 2023, three months after the fire, where they got a chance to speak with United States Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez. Throughout the process, she was present at the meetings and assured the residents that she would contact U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in Washington and would advocate on their behalves.
At the early meetings, one thing was clear: the residents wanted a temporary replacement facility where they could pick up mail. Throughout the meetings, they wanted to know when a permanent replacement would be announced.
One of their requests was answered when trailers were set up at the Arbolera Center parking lot, allowing people to pick up mail. However, that didn’t entirely fix the issue, as they still had to drive to Santa Cruz to pick up packages.
The trailers, which were also referred to by locals as “taco trucks,” were temporary though, as that method of providing services to postal customers came with its own set of challenges, such as patrons having to stand outside in the elements to pick up mail.
The second solution was also not a popular one: picking up mail at the Santa Cruz Post Office. That meant a drive down State Road 76 for Chimayó residents to get their mail. Despite the unpopularity, that continues to be the solution.
“In February 2024, a letter was sent to the town commissioners and a postcard sent to the community asking for input and public comment,” the email from Patterson said. “The feedback was reviewed and the decision to relocate the Post Office is moving forward.”
The same services that were offered at the Chimayó Post Office will be offered at the new location on Juan Medina Road the email said. Service will continue at the Santa Cruz Post Office until the new facility is open and operating.
The email said community input was considered and the decision is consistent with Postal Service objectives.
“Postal Service operations are not supported by tax dollars,” the email said. “To be self-sustaining, the Postal Service must make decisions that ensure it provides adequate and affordable postal services in a manner that is as efficient and economical as possible.”
An email was sent to Patterson asking about a timeline for the new post office. She said there is no timeline for when it will open.
In a Rio Grande SUN Facebook post asking Chimayó residents for their thoughts on the new post office, Yolanda Martinez-Salazar said, “I don’t care where, just give us our post office! Had this been in Los Alamos County, a new post office would have been erected in six months!!”
Gino Pacheco had a positive outlook on the new location.
“Honestly its in better shape and at least newer than what we ever had. Prob safer for the post master and everybody too. No (sic) too bad of a location a little out the way but hey it’s in chimayo thank u for getting us a post office,” he wrote
Sue Espinoza said centrally located would have been more convenient.
“Many small communities in northern NM have portable trailers as their post office. Makes no sense why we have to use existing buildings and wait longer for remodeling to be done when RA county offered space for a trailer to be brought in. And last mention by the county rent would not have been asked for unlike SF county looking to make $$$,” she wrote.
Repeated attempts to reach District 1 Rio Arriba County Commissioner Brandon Bustos for more information on the project were unsuccessful.
He’s been vocal at past county meetings about the importance of getting “normal” postal service restored to Chimayó residents, however, he did not respond to email and calls were sent directly to voicemail.
Messages were not left due to his voicemail box being full. Bustos was recently appointed chair of the Rio Arriba County Commission.