If the Postal Service Erodes, So Does American Life

“The post office is what urban designers call a 'local public anchor institution.' These are the shared civic buildings, services, and spaces accessible by all and benefiting all, and they also include public schools, libraries, and parks. They support the population without discrimination, through economic downturns and even during pandemics,” writes Patty Heyda.

Post offices do far more than just provide mail service and ensure voting rights, as important as those aspects of the postal service might be. “The post office shapes American public and private life in cities and towns, large and small. A dismantled USPS erodes American social ties, neighborhoods, and even families,” says Heyda.

The architecture of postal buildings reflects the government’s view of people and society, argues Heyda. When post offices go from stately buildings to branch offices in strip malls, the message is clear that public life is not a priority.

In addition, post offices maintain important social connections, says Heyda. From postal carriers who know the residents on their routes to post offices that double as social and informational hubs, the postal service is an institution that plays an essential role in American life.