U.S. Representative Angie Craig and Mayor Duane Jirik Highlight Critical Need to Improve New Prague Post Office

NEW PRAGUE, MN – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig hosted a listening session with New Prague city staff and residents to discuss their ongoing concerns regarding the safety, efficiency and accessibility of the New Prague Post Office. Representative Craig, New Prague Mayor Duane Jirik, New Prague City Administrator Joshua Tetzlaff, Scott County Commissioner Barb Weckman Brekke and several New Prague residents discussed these pressing concerns and the startling lack of effort from the United States Postal Service (USPS) to resolve any of these issues.

At the listening session, residents detailed their experiences at the New Prague Post Office, including dealing with its abrupt closures, lack of accessible parking, rerouting of services, the presence of asbestos and the inaccessible drop box location.

"The number of challenges that New Prague residents face while simply trying to send and access their mail is completely unacceptable. To make matters even worse, USPS has put forth no effort to resolve any of their troubling concerns," said Representative Craig. "My constituents deserve access to a reliable, efficient and safe post office so they can send letters, receive critical medications and stay connected with loved ones. I will keep working with Mayor Jirik, City Administrator Tetzlaff, Commissioner Weckman Brekke and my constituents to ensure the New Prague Post Office is provided with the long-overdue improvements it desperately needs."

"There aren't too many Members of Congress who will come to New Prague," said Ben Bartusek, a New Prague resident who attended the event after working to resolve his postal issues with Representative Craig's team. "So, I really appreciate Representative Craig joining us here today to listen to our stories and help us resolve these critical issues with the post office."

This listening session follows months of inaction on the part of USPS to resolve any of the issues brought forth by New Prague residents about their post office. For several months, residents have raised alarming health and safety concerns and highlighted its inaccessible features. Several USPS representatives were invited to participate in this event but declined to attend and would not allow Representative Craig to receive a tour of the New Prague Post Office to see those concerns first-hand. She and the group visited the lobby today anyway to thank workers for their service. Last week, Representative Craig sent a letter to USPS following up on her constituents' concerns and pushing for answers as to why many of these issues have been ignored.

Representative Craig encourages her constituents to contact her office if they are having any trouble navigating or accessing any federal agency. For assistance, they should visit Representative Craig's website at https://craig.house.gov/casework.

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