On February 21, 2007, the Office of the Mayor of the City of Alexandria received “good news” from Congressman Rodney Alexander of the Fifth Congressional District. The United States Post Office indicated to Alexander’s office in a congressional advisory that, while continuing adjustment of the mail processing network is a function of the postal service for efficiency, including consolidation, “[p]lease be assured that if the Alexandria distribution facility is ever identified as a site for an Area Mail Processing study, the Postal Service will notify all congressional offices, employees, as well as local employee organizations, municipal leaders, business mailers, news media, and other stakeholders.”
The Advisory indicated that, in fact, there was no “area mail processing study being conducted at the Alexandria Processing and Distribution Facility (P&DF).” The Post Office stated the Advisory was to dispel confusion that had arisen regarding the local mail processing issues in Alexandria.
The administration is excited to know that this was all, according to the Post Office, in simple need of clarification; however, Postal Union workers and others felt strongly enough to come to the administration and indicate the very real possibility of a closure, downsizing, or relocation/consolidation. Moreover, the documents did show Alexandria as number 65 on a list to be consolidated to Lafayette.
Whatever the status, the news from Alexander’s office is indeed good and welcomed by the City of Alexandria.
The concerted effort was clearly one in which the entire delegation participated and worked together to achieve a great result for Central Louisiana. “It is just the kind of action you want to see from our federal delegation in true bipartisan fashion when a problem arises which affects our region” said Mayor Jacques M. Roy. “I want to thank Congressman Alexander, Senator Landrieu, and Senator Vitter for their prompt, tireless, and apparently efficacious address of these issues.”
The Administration notes the Mayor and Councilman Charles Frederick Smith, Jr. met with staff members of each of the United States Senators as well as had continued contact with Alexander’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Royal Alexander (no relation to the Congressman).
On another note, Royal Alexander will be leaving the Congressman’s staff for new pursuits, and he will be sorely missed for his efforts in the Fifth Congressional District and particularly his devotion to the City of Alexandria.

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