The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has filed a lawsuit against the United States Postal Service after receiving authorization from the County Commission on Tuesday.
The lawsuit seeks to stop the USPS from implementing its plan to move processing operations from Reno to Sacramento as part of a larger “national strategy” to consolidate their processing network.
Federal law requires the USPS to first go through the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), an independent body overseeing their operations, before implementing changes that affect service on a substantially nationwide basis.
The DA's lawsuit alleges that the USPS has not done so, and it asks the U.S. District Court in Reno to halt any further action on the USPS plan and instead require them to go through the PRC’s advisory opinion process. If successful, the District Attorney’s Office, on behalf of Washoe County, will participate in the PRC process and assert its position in opposition.
For now, the county will serve the USPS, which will have a chance to respond before the parties then argue their sides in court.
Update, May 28:
The Washoe County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to allow the Washoe County District Attorney's Office to take legal action against the USPS to prevent mail processing moving from Reno to Sacramento.
It says this is because the USPS didn't seek out an opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission before making the decision.
The board voted to authorize up to $25,000 to cover legal costs.
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Update, April 24:
The Postal Service says after a business review, they still plan to go ahead with the transfer of mail processing to West Sacramento.
As we've reported, the Postal Service is also planning millions in upgrades to the Reno Processing Center which will remain open.
Critics of the plan say that will delay mail deliveries in Reno to those who need them most like veterans and the elderly especially when severe weather results in the closure of I-80.
USPS will invest up to $13.4 million as part of a 10-year Delivering for America plan - $8.4 million will go towards modernization and deferred maintenance, such as new lighting and renovations to bathrooms and breakrooms.
"The Local Processing Center (LPC) will continue to sort inbound mail in Reno. The Sacramento P&DC will process the outgoing mail. The vast majority of which already leaves the local area. We currently sort that outgoing mail in Reno and then put it on a truck to Sacramento. With this change, we’re simply taking out that expensive and inefficient first handling," a USPS spokesman told 2 News Nevada.
The agency also said there will be no career employee layoffs due to these improvements.
"Once changes are implemented, Business Mail Entry, Post Office, station, and branch retail services are not expected to change, and delivery services will be enhanced. After the Reno facility is converted to an LPC, it is anticipated that it will be able to mail and ship packages, manual letters and flats. The LPC is also anticipated to offer express services and accept bulk and permit mail."
In a statement, Senator Jacky Rosen said, “I am outraged that out-of-touch Washington bureaucrats think they know what’s best for our state, and have decided to move forward with this misguided plan to move mail processing operations to Sacramento. As Nevadans have made clear all along, this decision will impact hardworking families and small businesses that rely on timely mail delivery. Let me be absolutely clear: this fight is not over. As a member of the committee with jurisdiction over the Postal Service, I will continue to fight against this ill-advised decision and explore all available options to prevent it from being implemented.”
In a statement posted on X, Senator Cortez Masto said, "The USPS's decision to move Reno's mail processing operations to California is 2025 is a mistake that will hurt Nevada. I'll keep doing everything I can to protect Nevada jobs and ensure that Nevadans can get their mail on time."
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sam Brown released the following statement:
"This is yet another example of Jacky Rosen failing the Nevadans she supposedly represents. Our campaign was the first to raise the alarm over the terrible impact this proposal would have on all Nevadans. From mail ballots to medication for Nevada veterans, this change will cause delays and immense harm to our local Northern Nevadan communities. Jacky Rosen instead chose to ignore this proposal until it was too late, and as a result, Nevadans will suffer and the D.C. bureaucrats will get their way. Nevada deserves a Senator who shows up, not one who is constantly derelict in her duties."
Northern Nevada’s congressional delegation — which includes Rosen, Democratic U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei — sent a letter to USPS opposing the move and have long spoken out against it.
Other opposition came from Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo and the Washoe County Commission, which includes Reno.
Lombardo said his administration, along with Nevada’s congressional delegation, will “continue to fight against mismanagement in Washington for timely and efficient mail services for Nevadans.”
Lawmakers have expressed concerns that mail service can be caught in traffic delays even in the best of weather by the hour-long round trip drive over the Sierra Nevada, which lies between Reno and Sacramento. The area is also known for harsh blizzards throughout much of the year, including one in March that dumped up to 10 feet of snow and provided ammo for critics of the move.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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April 16, 2024:
A Congressional hearing was held Tuesday to discuss whether to relocate the USPS Processing & Distribution Center from Reno to Sacramento.
You can watch the hearing here by clicking on this link
During the hearing, Senator Rosen (D-NV) will question Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on the proposed downsizing and relocation of the mail processing operations. Witnesses for the hearing include Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, USPS Board of Governors Chairman Roman Martinez IV, Postal Regulatory Commission Chairman Michael Kubayanda, and USPS Inspector General Tammy Hull.
Senator Rosen had a meeting with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) and USPS executives to discuss the possible move.
Sen. Rosen says, "I sit in the committee with direct oversight of the US Postal Service and we are actually scheduled to have a hearing next week on all of the USPS plans with Post Master General."
The plan of downsizing and relocation would mean that over 60 USPS employees in Reno would lose their jobs. Sen. Rosen said this plan would mean mail from Reno would have to go over Donner Pass to Sacramento and back over the pass to be processed -- and with I-80 shutdowns from weather and wildfires, this could cause delays.
Last month, Senator Rosen and Congressman Mark Amodei (R-NV) visited the Reno Processing & Distribution Center to see firsthand what impacts the proposal would have on service delivery time and jobs.
Earlier, the center was proposed to move to Sacramento impacting local jobs and further slowing mail delivery, especially to rural areas.
Nevada lawmakers have been opposed to the proposed relocation because of the negative impact it would have on northern Nevada. Senator Rosen had joined a group of over 20 Senators in a letter urging Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to stop any changes or relocations to USPS processing facilities.
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March 7, 2024:
Governor Joe Lombardo sent a letter to Postmaster General DeJoy on Thursday, March 7 about the proposed changes to the USPS Processing and Distribution Center.
Last month, the United States Postal Service proposed downsizing the Reno Processing and Distribution Center to a Local Processing Center, requiring mail to be sent to Sacramento, California for processing.
In the letter, Governor Lombardo cited the recent snowstorm as a reason why they shouldn't move mail processing to Sacramento.
He also wrote about how the Department of Health and Human Services relies heavily on the US Postal Service. For example, the move could result in delays receiving and processing applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicaid.
You can read the full letter below:
