Residents along Hudson Lane in Española are scratching their heads over why their mailboxes were moved from the spot where one resident said they’ve stood for nearly 40 years.
More perplexing yet is that Española post office supervisor Carlos Pompa refuses to explain to them why the mail boxes were moved.
“I asked him whose idea this was to move the mailbox, but nobody knows,” said June Hays. “He said he received several complaints about the mailbox, but he wouldn’t tell us who complained.”
Hays, 86, said the mailbox moved four weeks ago, about 15 feet south of its previous location at the corner of Hudson Lane and North McCurdy Road. The mailbox, which serves about 10 residents, now sits along McCurdy, which has no sidewalks.
Worse yet, when it rains or the nearby homeowner waters his garden, the water pools in front of the mailbox, making it virtually inaccessible.
“It’s a total nuisance,” said a resident who lives across the street from Hays but who wouldn’t give his name. “In the winter that spot ices up pretty bad.”
Donald O’Brien, a friend of Hays’, said Pompa never consulted with Hudson Lane residents prior to moving the mailbox.
When asked about the mailbox, Pompa became combative with a reporter, asking for proof that he really worked for the newspaper. The reporter showed Pompa his state-issued driver’s license, but he wanted a press credential.
When the reporter explained the paper doesn’t issue IDs, Pompa told the reporter the mailbox was none of the reporter’s business.
When the reporter explained to Pompa the mailbox’s new location poses a safety risk for Hudson Lane’s elderly residents, he replied, “That’s not my problem.”
Anthony Trujillo, city streets supervisor, said mailboxes are a federal issue, even if located on a city street.
“If we touch them it’s a federal offense,” he said. “They probably had a contractor come in and do it.”
Postal Service district manager Michael Flores was out of the office until Wednesday. Barbara Woods, Postal Service media liaison, said the cluster box was moved for safety reasons.
“When the mailman delivered mail it was obstructing the view of the oncoming traffic so the property owners and the contractor determined where they moved it to was the safest area,” she said.
She said the Postal Service will investigate whether the move has now put residents in danger.
When Hays retrieved her mail recently following a heavy rain, she walked through the puddle, which stretched almost across the road, only to slide around in the mud collecting at the bottom.
“There’s no way to get away from the mud,” she said. “Even when the water recedes, the mud is still there. It took me thirty minutes to clean off my shoes.”
She said she didn’t appreciate Pompa’s attitude when questioned about the move. Walking down North McCurdy is dangerous since motorists tend to drive well above the speed limit. And if there’s a puddle, they’ll often speed up to create a splash, she said.
“I want it moved back,” she said. “All they have to do is pick it up and bolt it back down. The cement block is still there.”