Cardin, Van Hollen, Mfume, Olszewski Welcome USPS Long-Term Mail Solution for Fort Howard Residents

FORT HOWARD, MD — U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.), and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski today welcomed a long-term solution from the United States Postal Service (USPS) to help ensure residents in the Fort Howard community will maintain local access to mail services.
 
In coordination with Baltimore County, USPS will be placing 169 mailbox units on a portion of County land within Fort Howard Veterans Park (located at 9105 North Point Road, 21219) which will allow residents in the immediate area to continue to receive mail.

“Closing the Fort Howard Post Office and requiring residents to travel outside their community for their mail would have disrupted vital mail service for Fort Howard’s residents. While we would have preferred the post office to remain open, we appreciate the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) decision to provide closer mailboxes so Fort Howard residents can continue to receive consistent, local mail service. In working with USPS and our local partners, we found a resolution that is convenient and meets the immediate and long-term needs of the community,” said Senator Cardin.
 
“After a months-long push, Fort Howard residents finally have the certainty of a long-term solution for their mail service. Although it falls short of keeping the Fort Howard branch open, this agreement keeps USPS mail delivery consistent with the standard that the community has grown accustomed to over the years. I’m glad our federal delegation, the Postal Service, and Baltimore County were able to work together to keep mail delivery close to home in Fort Howard,” said Senator Van Hollen.

Federal lawmakers previously sent a letter to USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy expressing concern over the agency’s initial plan to close the Fort Howard branch without a long-term solution for constituents to continue retrieving their mail following the closure.
 
“While it took sustained advocacy and pointed dialogue with the United States Postal Service over the last few months, I believe we are in a better place for the hardworking residents of Fort Howard with today's announcement. I thank Baltimore County Executive Olszewski, Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, Delegate Bob Long, Delegate Richard Metzgar, and Baltimore County Councilman Todd Crandell for jointly answering my call and thank the postal service for not giving up. Fort Howard mail delivery will thankfully continue in the community now for many years to come,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume.   
 
Following continued advocacy from Congressman Mfume and federal partners, the Olszewski administration worked with USPS to enter into a long-term lease at the County-owned Fort Howard Veterans Park site.
 
“Responsive government is one that listens to the needs of the communities it serves and works to implement creative solutions to help meet those needs,” said Baltimore County Executive Olszewski. “Baltimore County is proud to work with its federal leaders to identify this option to support residents in the Fort Howard community who were set to lose federal mail service and I thank Congressman Mfume, County Administrative Officer Stacy Rodgers and all our partners for working collectively to identify this new opportunity for our neighbors.”

Initially expected to close on Friday, September 15, the Fort Howard Post Office Branch was granted an extension to continue operating in its current location until October 14, while this solution was finalized.
 
The new location is approximately 0.2 miles from the current For Howard Post Office location. Without these newly placed mailbox units, residents would have had to travel to the Dundalk Post Office — approximately 8 miles away. 
 
Residents served by these new boxes are being notified directly by USPS.