Clifton Thomas’ confusion began when he saw a sign posted on the front of the community cluster box unit from USPS indicating there’s been recent vandalism.
SAN ANTONIO — Homeowners on the northeast side have been dealing with the absence of mail coming to their community mailbox for several weeks, prompting frustration among residents.
“Really just standing up for the entire community here. We just want some answers,” said Clifton Thomas.
The mailbox in question is near Jeffs Farm and Caramel Way in Bexar County.
Thomas and family have lived in the Meadow Park Homeowners Association near Kirby for almost a decade. Lately, he’s been struggling to find out why no mail has shown up over nearly the past month.
Thomas said he has four packages that have been deemed “undeliverable.”
“Very aggravating, because you have your W-2s coming, taxes coming, just different bills. Not everybody pays their bills online nowadays,” Thomas said.
The cluster box confusion began when he spotted a sign posted by the U.S. Postal Service on the front of the mailbox.
The notice informed residents about apparent “vandilism,” a word misspelled on the notice, and to pick up their mail at a particular post office off of East Houston Street.
“So we thought it maybe would be corrected over time and here we are still in the same situation, no mail, no packages, anything,” Thomas said.
Thomas noted he’s gotten nowhere with USPS after calling the agency several times. Even getting his mail business done in person at the post office more than 30 minutes away, it’s been a challenge.
“There’s lines out the door, you have to sit there and wait. We went and asked questions about, ‘Hey, what’s the update on the sign on the actual mailboxes?'” No answer,” Thomas said.
A USPS spokesperson emailed this statement addressing the issue:
“Safeguarding the security and sanctity of the mail is of paramount importance to the U.S. Postal Service. This includes ensuring mail receptacles are secured, and in good condition at all times. In this case, local postal management is aware of damaged mailboxes at the specific location mentioned in the 78244 ZIP Code area and is working diligently to complete repairs as quickly as possible. As soon as the work is completed, mail delivery will resume.
“In the interim, residents may continue to pick up their mail at the J Frank Dobie Post Office, located at 4950 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78220, from 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Saturday. We apologize to our valued customers for any inconvenience that may have been caused and appreciate their patience as we work to successfully resolve this matter.”
For the foreseeable future, Thomas and neighbors will have continue picking up their mail at the post office.
“It’s a big inconvenience,” he said. “We would like an ETA or something.”