HOUSTON — For more than a month and a half, KHOU 11 News has been trying to get answers from the United States Postal Service about mail delays at Houston-area facilities that have impacted tens of thousands of customers.
USPS has responded with the same written statement regarding the frustrating package delays involving everything from life-saving medications to wedding dresses. For seven weeks, officials have declined to answer our questions or grant on-camera interview requests.
On Wednesday, U.S. Representatives Al Green and Sylvia Garcia finally had their request granted for a sit-down meeting with the USPS office of inspector general.
Green said she disclosed that they are conducting an audit of the South Houston Local Processing Center in Missouri City.
According to Green, she expressed concern about allegations that customers couldn't reach USPS personnel for answers and she admitted that there have been transparency issues. The inspector general also acknowledged that staffing issues may have contributed to the backlog, according to Green.
In a statement, Green and Garcia said the inspector general "was not in a position to provide solutions to delivery delay issues" but has been in Houston investigating the matter.
The OIG told us she expects to issue a report sometime in the spring.
Green said he and Garcia intend to tour both facilities before the March elections.
"Our constituents have made their voices heard loud and clear: USPS has failed them," Garcia said. "This is unacceptable and we will continue to work on this matter until reliable mail delivery is once again the norm."
Republican Congressman Randy Webber is planning to hold a press conference outside the Missouri City processing center on Friday.
Problems began at north Houston Distribution Center
On Tuesday, Green spoke with USPS union representatives who backed up what an insider told KHOU 11 News about what triggered the massive delays. The union reps confirmed that it started with a new piece of equipment at the north Houston facility.
That sorting machine was too big, according to the whistleblower, so smaller machines had to be removed to make room for it.
Meantime, staff members had already been transferred with the expectation of a lighter workload thanks to the new machine. So something that was supposed to help, ended up making things much worse.
“Every open space aside from at least half of the aisleways has mail or trash sitting there," the longtime employee told us.
Since we first began reporting on the delays in mid-December, some people have received their packages while others have been waiting for weeks.
"I thank the press for continued coverage of USPS mail delays, especially KHOU 11 for bringing this issue to my attention. The persistent coverage has compelled USPS to address mail delivery delays by bringing in more than 30 additional employees," Green said.
Green said it could be necessary to hold a congressional hearing on the issue if USPS doesn't start being more transparent.
When asked if he would feel comfortable mailing an important document right now, Green said he would rather hand-deliver the document instead of relying on USPS.
Another Houston-area Congressman has joined the bipartisan effort to address the delays. Rep. Randy Weber represents Brazoria and Galveston counties.
“Our constituents across the Greater Houston area have been severely impacted by mail delays, which has prompted a bipartisan effort to ensure the United States Postal Service understands the impacts this has on customers," Weber said in a statement. "We want answers just like our constituents do."
Are you having issues with the post office? Send an email to mailproblems@khou.com and let us know. You can see our coverage of delays at Houston-area USPS processing centers on KHOU.com/PostalProblems.