Cezary Podkul and Emily Stephenson examine the likely economic and social consequences of efforts by the U.S. Postal Service to close thousands of rural post offices this year.
While officials blame the internet for killing the U.S. Postal Service, an examination of plans for post office closures reveals that "about one-third of the offices slated for closure fall in areas with limited or no wired broadband Internet."
Furthermore, "Nearly 80 percent of the 3,830 post offices under consideration are in sparsely populated rural areas where poverty rates are higher than the national average," and the post office serves as the only way to do business.
Although the Postal Service has chosen which offices to close based on revenue, "The statistics show that closing all the post offices under consideration would save about $295 million a year, about four-tenths of 1 percent of the Postal Service's annual expenses of $70 billion."
FULL STORY: Post office closings may increase rural isolation, economic disparity
Sustainability Advocates Reject USPS Electrification Plan
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$9 Billion for Rural 5G
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
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Engineers Gave America's Roads an Almost Failing Grade — Why Aren't We Fixing Them?
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The European Cities That Love E-Scooters — And Those That Don’t
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Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)