- October 30, 2023
Members of N.M. Congressional Delegation Announce Chimayó Post Office Open
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) announced the U.S. Postal Service has opened two mobile units in Chimayo, New Mexico. Earlier this year, after the U.S. Post Office in Chimayó was destroyed by a fire, Heinrich, Luján, and Leger Fernández wrote to United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy for a plan of action to restore postal service to the community of Chimayó. The USPS heeded their call and has opened two mobile units that will provide limited retail services and offer local pickup of mail and small parcels.
“Residents in Chimayó rely on the mail to receive everything from paychecks to prescription medicine,” said Senator Heinrich. “These new mobile units will help restore service to the community after months without a Post Office. This will reduce the need for residents to drive long distances to the Santa Cruz Post Office for their daily mail pickup. While this is a welcome step in the right direction, we will continue to press USPS for the long-term solution: a reopened, full service Post Office in Chimayó.”
“Accessing local postal service shouldn’t be a burden – and from day one my office has worked to right this wrong. That’s why I’m glad the USPS has finally acted on our call and opened two mobile units to serve Chimayó,” said Senator Luján. “After closing due to a fire, it’s unacceptable that some New Mexicans for months have had to travel as far as 20 miles to access their mail. It’s disappointing that it took as long as it did for this temporary fix. As these mobile units serve the community of Chimayó, we will continue to fight for a permanent solution.”
“I’m glad the Chimayo community finally has a place to send and receive mail from home. They won’t have to travel the narrow roads to the Santa Cruz Post Office,” said Rep. Leger Fernández. “I’ve been to Chimayo and heard how important the post office is for this small, rural and vibrant community. These mobile units came far too late, 8 months after the post office burned to the ground. It’s unacceptable and the USPS must still provide a timeline for the reestablishment of a permanent post office. I will keep fighting for Chimayo to get its permanent post office.”