One of the major problems with politics is when an issue is not good for this region, there is a problem with it.
That is especially the case with the proposed closing of the Buffalo Postal Facility. As part of the plan, some jobs would be lost but many of the employees will be offered an opportunity to relocate, including some to Rochester. It also would offer a more than $20 million savings to the postal service.
Job relocation is an inconvenience, however it offers these employees an option many in the private sector do not have when a company closes its doors.
Making the most noise about the possible facility closure is U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins. As the representative for this area, his concerns are valid. A facility will close, jobs will be lost and the public has not been fairly represented in the process.
Higgins is now calling for an independent review of the Area Mail Processing study since the U.S. Postal Service in his opinion "has knowingly and deliberately hidden from the public important information."
Really? This coming from the person who would not hold open meetings in Western New York regarding the U.S. health care plan two years ago because he knew enough about the opinions of his constituents?
While this corner would rather see another postal facility close, the reality - as we all know - is the postal service is a money pit. Buffalo, according to the last 30 years of Censuses, has lost population - about 120,000 residents.
Where is most of this postal work to go? Rochester, which has stable population and some areas that are growing.
Buffalo, through its years of mismanaging public money from local, state and federal officials, has been a mess for half a century. Keeping this facility open - or not - will not change the current landscape of this self-destructive region.
We can appreciate Higgins trying to save a publicly funded institution. That's his job.
But if he's really serious, instead of criticizing a Post Office study, maybe he needs to come up with some options that make it worthwhile for the postal service to keep the facility open.
He could even hold public meetings on the proposed closing, something he refused to do for his constituents for the health-care plan.
But if he cannot do any of this, unfortunately, he is just another politician who wants bad money thrown at a losing proposition to make him look better.
Of course, as taxpayers know too well, this happens far too often. And we pick up the tab.
